• Covid-19
  • Travel Protocols
  • Immigration & Customs Form
Friday, May 16, 2025
SKNIS
  • Home
  • About
  • Press Releases
  • Parliament
  • In The News
  • Bills
No Result
View All Result
SKNIS
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

National Address for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Minister of Gender Affairs

SKNISEditor by SKNISEditor
November 26, 2020
in Featured, Press Releases
National Address for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Minister of Gender Affairs

HON. EUGENE HAMILTON, MINISTER OF GENDER AFFAIRS

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

My fellow citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Like other International days, this day serves to educate the public on an issue that has become a global problem and needs to be addressed for the sake of humanity. The theme for this year is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”. According to the United Nations, violence against women and girls has become one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world today. To make matters worse, COVID-19 lockdown measures have resulted in an increase in violence against women and girls especially domestic violence. As result, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to join our global partners in an effort to end the violence and we’re calling on all citizens to join us.

In 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women commonly known as CEDAW to end gender-based violence around the world. Its adoption was partly in response to the brutal murders of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic on the 25th of November in 1960. The three sisters were killed by their country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo, for opposing his dictatorship. This led other female activists to observe this day in 1981 to serve as a reminder to all governments and international organizations to organize activities that will raise public awareness every year. This day also marks the start of the 16 Day Campaign which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence again women, men and children. The campaign will therefore end on the 10th of December which is recognized as the International Day of Human Rights.

Related posts

PUBLIC SHIFTING AWAY FROM SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

PUBLIC SHIFTING AWAY FROM SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

May 16, 2025
SIX BILLS TO RECEIVE FIRST READING, TWO OTHERS SLATED FOR SECOND READING IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2024

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETS ON THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025

May 16, 2025

Domestic violence in St. Kitts and Nevis continues to be a serious concern that we all must pay attention to. According to the statistics received from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Special Victims Unit, there have been fluctuating reports of abuse from 2018 to 2020. In 2018 there were 120 reported cases of domestic violence where 30 of the victims were males and the remaining 90 females. In 2019, the number of reported cases declined to 87 cases where 7 of the victims were males and the remaining 80 victims were females. Unfortunately, however, in the first half of 2020, 106 cases were reported; more cases compared to the whole of 2019 and just 14 cases less than the figure reported for the whole of 2018. While we await the final report for the second half of 2020, we can only hope that the figures have decreased, not because of a decline in the number of reports made, but because of a decline in the number of incidents that have occurred. The increase in violence against women during COVID-19 has been termed the Shadow Pandemic, and some factors that are responsible for the increase include money concerns, cramped living conditions, isolation with abusers and movement restrictions. So, how can we as a Federation help? We can do so by acting on the theme “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”.

Fund. Contrary to the beliefs of some, Governments alone cannot effectively fund all the help that is needed. This issue will require the financial efforts of government and non-governmental institutions including businesses, NGOs and individuals.

Respond. We must ensure that essential services for survivors of domestic violence remain readily available during the pandemic. In the U.S, a woman in danger, pretended to call a pizza place but instead called 911. Her tone of voice caught the despatcher’s attention, who played along and quickly sent help her way. We should all therefore be mindful of any cues that a victim might send to us.

Prevent. Let us be mindful of the signs of domestic violence in our relationships. The abuser often bullies, threatens, is controlling of finances and is physically or sexually abusive. If any of these factors pertain to you or someone you know please seek help as soon as possible. You may contact the Special Victims Unit 24/7 hotline at 665-3091 or the Department of Gender Affairs 24/7 line at 662-5492.

Collect. In order for us to effectively help, relevant agencies must continue to record and share the data between one another. However, it is also important for all victims to come forward because if we do not know the full extent to which our Federation is hurting, we will definitely misdiagnose and under-treat the problem.

Before I close, I would like to encourage you to support the activities for the 16 Day Campaign organized by the Department of Gender Affairs. These include the Church service on the 22nd at Zion Moravian Church, the Mock Parliament on the Sexual Harassment Bill on the 25th at Government Headquarters by the St. Kitts Nevis Youth Parliament, the display of Silent Witnesses on the 27th in the Independence Square, and on the 4th of December in Nevis, the “Wear Orange Day” also on the 4th and a Radio Panel Discussion on the 9th of December. I would also like to thank the Department of Gender Affairs, the Police, SVU, the hospitals and everyone else who have valiantly worked to help our victims. Finally, to those who have abused their power and position, I say STOP. What you are doing or what you have done is a crime that will never be okay. May we all continue to work together to solve this issue of violence against Women.

Thank You.

Previous Post

Cuba establishes Health Fee for arriving passengers

Next Post

PAYOUT SCHEDULE UNDER ESCROW BILL TO ENSURE COMPLETION OF CBI-RELATED DEVELOPMENTS IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

Next Post
PAYOUT SCHEDULE UNDER ESCROW BILL TO ENSURE COMPLETION OF CBI-RELATED DEVELOPMENTS IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

PAYOUT SCHEDULE UNDER ESCROW BILL TO ENSURE COMPLETION OF CBI-RELATED DEVELOPMENTS IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

WHAT'S HOT

PUBLIC SHIFTING AWAY FROM SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

PUBLIC SHIFTING AWAY FROM SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

May 16, 2025
SIX BILLS TO RECEIVE FIRST READING, TWO OTHERS SLATED FOR SECOND READING IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2024

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETS ON THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025

May 16, 2025
Prime Minister Drew Reinforces Bold Commitments to Strengthening the Nursing Fraternity and Regional Leadership in Healthcare

Prime Minister Drew Reinforces Bold Commitments to Strengthening the Nursing Fraternity and Regional Leadership in Healthcare

May 16, 2025

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • 2025
  • Attorney General, Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs
  • Bills
  • Featured
  • Featured Ministry
  • Government Projects
  • Home Page Slider
  • In Focus
  • In The News
  • Interviews
  • Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources; Cooperatives; Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy
  • Ministry of Education, Youth; Social Development; Gender Affairs; Aging and Disabilities
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Economic Development and Investment
  • Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities; Domestic Transport; Information, Communication and Technology; and Posts
  • Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment; Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment
  • Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation; International Transport; Employment and Labour; Urban Development
  • Notices
  • Parliament
  • PMO Press Releases
  • Press Conferences
  • Press Releases
  • Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Finance; National Security; Citizenship and Immigration; Health and Social Security
  • Register of Voters
  • Round Table
  • The Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Secteatry
  • Uncategorized

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Facebook Pagelike Widget

LOCATION

St. Kitts Nevis Information Service
Government Headquarters
Chruch Street
Basseterre
St. Kitts
Tel:(869)467-1416

FOLLOW US

  • Government of St. Kitts & Nevis

© 2020 St. Kitts & Nevis Information Service. Developed by E-Government Unit

No Result
View All Result
  • Home

© 2020 St. Kitts & Nevis Information Service. Developed by E-Government Unit