Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 25, 2020 (SKNIS): The general public is strongly encouraged to be culturally sensitive and respectful to all persons in appreciation of their uniqueness.
This was according to a representative for Migrant Women, Grace Carr, during her November 25, 2020, appearance on ‘Working for You’ where she joined several others to discuss the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
Ms. Carr noted that when it comes to gender-based violence and its impact on migrant women she would like to see several changes. One important change is for persons to be culturally sensitive to the migrant population.
“What I find especially as it relates to migrant women is that people are very culturally insensitive to their needs,” said Ms. Carr. “A woman might find herself in a country, some people have probably overstayed for whatever reason. People address them and see them as persons who they can sexually disadvantage because… they are not able to fend for themselves economically, and so sometimes they get themselves into relationships with men that are unfavourable and they hold this economic power over them because they are not from here.”
Ms. Carr appealed to persons who are disadvantaged or whatever reason to reach out for assistance.
“There are centres or faith-based community services that people can access. Certainly, Jam Kit [Jamaican Kittitian Association] is one association that persons who are from the migrant community that they can align themselves with and get relief,” he said.
She noted that it would also be important if information becomes available and easily accessible to assist persons. Additionally, she would like to see “stricter and harsher punishment for perpetrators.
Ms. Carr further noted that having the right attitude is an essential ingredient in developing and building a more harmonious and tolerant society.
“We have to get to that place where we talk about 20/30 vision but a lot of Caribbean islands we are not third world countries. What is third world about us is our attitude towards each other and to the law,” she said. “We have the capabilities and we wear it all but we need the will. We need the will to do what we are supposed to do by our elders, persons with disability, migrant population and by our women and children.”
Patricia Richards-Leader, Chief Executive Officer at the Grange Facility, appealed to Ms. Carr to set up orientation classes, through Jam Kit for the migrant population. This, she said, should assist them to better execute their duties and provide them with the relevant information needed to make their lives easier.
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