Head of the Network of NGO’s for the Advancement of Women Hazel Brown says it is time for the relevant stakeholders to come together to determine the root causes of violence against women and work on providing solutions to the problems.
Referring to the number of recent incidents in which women have been the prime targets, Brown said there seems to be greater sensitivity by the media in terms of what is reported and what is selected to be on the front page of the daily newspapers.
She added that it could also be an issue of more people now reporting crimes.
Speaking to reporters prior to the start of yesterday’s rally to commemorate International Women’s Day in Port-of-Spain, Brown asked, “Why are more people becoming violent? Just like we are trying to find the root causes of traffic accidents, we can begin to teach people to make their homes and communities safe.”
Walking along the Brian Lara Promenade as she perused the various booths set up to showcase products and services available to battered women and other vulnerable groups in society, Brown said, “If you make it safe for women, it will be safe for everybody else.”
Declaring that it had to start with children, Brown said there was no one solution to the problem.
Urging the population to accept responsibility and try to find ways in which they can make a difference, Brown said focus must be paid to boys, girls and churches.
Recalling two serious cases of child abuse which involved pastors, Brown said there were different kinds of interventions available.
“Children have to learn how to recognise violence because they are very easily confused. People who love them say beat them, and they can’t tell the difference between abuse and love.
“They kind of look alike and it’s the same people doing it,” Brown said.
Deputy political leader of the People’s National Movement, Joan Yuille-Williams, also paid a visit to the various booths before setting off on the march.
The Breastfeeding Association of T&T, Women Working for Social Progress, Women of Worth and the Network of NGO’s for the Advancement of Women were also present.
Also “handing” out free hugs yesterday was Synergy TV’s Stephan Reis, who held aloft a placard advertising his wares.
In a brief interview, Reis saidduring his first ten minutes at the venue, he had already “given” out 45 hugs to both men and women.
Asked to reveal the reason behind his unusual offer, Reis explained that there were too many negative situations and violence affecting women nowadays and that it cost nothing to offer comfort to others who might be in need of it.
Port-of-Spain mayor Keron Valentine also issued a proclamation declaring March 8 as International Women’s Day in the capital.
In the one-page document, Valentine supported the work by Network of NGO’s for the Advancement of Women as he reflected on their efforts to improve working conditions at all levels; efforts to promote HIV/Aids awareness; the development of information communication technology especially for women in rural areas; and its policy input in the development of a draft National Gender Policy and Action Plan for the country.