Police & Women's Desk Host Domestic Violence Seminar
Police in the United Kingdom are called out to an incidence of domestic violence every 60 seconds. They receive more than 1,300 calls every day and more than 570,000 calls a year relating to domestic violence. These figures suggest that an individual is violently assaulted, in the sanctity of their own home, every 6-20 seconds.
In the British Virgin Islands, one in every four women have reported being a victim of domestic violence, according to a 1998 study conducted by Dr. Nesha Haniff, a Consultant with the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC). In an effort to tackle the problem, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and the Women's Desk of the Chief Minister's Office hosted a two-day seminar at the Prospect Reef Hotel. The October 26th-27th seminar was attended by Police Officers and representatives of the Women's Desk, the Social Development Department, Prison, Health, Attorney General's Chambers, Education, the HLSCC and the Family Support Network. They discussed the establishment of protocols, shelters, counselling and legislation.
"We believe that it is only by bringing our collective wisdom together to address a common problem that any form of solution will ultimately be forthcoming," according to Deputy Commissioner of Police John Johnston. "Like so many of the social evils which plague us today, domestic violence is a global problem...it disregards gender, race, religion and age...(and) this is an issue which the Police cannot work towards a solution in isolation." Deputy Governor Mr. Elton Georges commended the organizers for attempting to bring in place workable systems or networks of related activities and programmes, to deal with the phenomenon of family violence. His first appeal was against the urge we all have to over-simplify the problem. He noted that there are those who think it is a police problem, that flogging offenders will solve the problem, that it is a situation where we need to get back to God or that the problem could be reduced if offenders are deported.
"If nothing else comes out of this seminar, I hope that the realization sinks in...that it is not simply a Police problem or any other one single type of problem, even though the Police of course, are an important link in the chain," the Deputy Governor stated. He suggested that health care providers, social workers, court officials, church leaders and prison officials, are all very important parts of the network which must deal with family violence. Mr. Georges said he would also like to see a protocol established for the media houses dealing with domestic violence. He said one must not forget the policy makers, who provide the overall legal policy framework. "The Domestic Violence Act, which was passed a few years ago, was a great leap forward; we must however, always go on refining and improving it in the light of experience, while remaining conscious of the limits of legislation." He stressed the complexity of the problem, but said the community should move speedily to study, seek to understand and devise strategies and protocols. "I'm also throwing out a plea today for the agencies responsible to recognize the importance of ongoing education and research."
Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal noted that the problem of domestic violence has been around for a long time and has become a cancer in the society. "There is not a quick remedy for it...it's a matter that all of us in the community must work together to help reduce the incidence of domestic violence." He said it is the government's policy to always cooperate and work through and with the Family Support Network. FSN can expected to receive monies from government to set up an office and hire staff to ensure the effectiveness of the network. A meeting will shortly be held by the Chief Minister with the officials from the FSN to set out a programme of allocation of the funds.
As has been recommended, government is also now out-fitting new offices for the Women's Desk, which is headed by Mrs. Rita Frett-Georges. These offices will be more private than the Central Administration Building. For his part, Commissioner of Police Mr. Vernon E. Malone underscored the complexity of domestic violence through a situation analysis, which indicated that it truly is impossible for the Police to deal with this problem, without assistance from other organizations. He reiterated the Force's stand that domestic violence is wrong and illegal and that all attempts will be made "to reduce and eventually eradicate this awful menace from our community". In 1998, COP Malone issued a directive to all Police Officers that all domestic violence cases will be prosecuted, unless a Superintendent or above decides otherwise, on good grounds. He said the force became sensitized to this issue through training and lectures and they continue to denounce domestic violence through its news releases, yearly festival floats and Police Week concerts. The Family and Juvenile Department will also be strengthened with additional officers. The Commissioner said short term and long term measures must be considered in an effort to tackle the problem. He suggested assistance programmes that protect the abused, public education and empowerment for the victims as they seek to re-establish their lives without violence. "This is not a task that the Police alone can perform...a multi-disciplinary approach is necessary".
Dr. Nesha Haniff, Professor at the Baltimore University commended the BVI government for having established a Domestic Violence Act, for having conducted a study and starting the process of implementing some of the findings. She said while domestic violence is indeed a global problem, not every country has such an Act, nor do they have the commitment of their governments. According to Dr. Haniff, four years is not a lot of time to begin to see action happening. She noted that the BVI has achieved a lot, but more progress cannot be made without building a team and without compromise.
Head of the Women's Desk Mrs. Rita Frett-Georges acknowledged the tremendous work done by her predecessor Ms. Eugenia O'Neal in the establishment of the Women's Desk. She said it took some time for domestic violence to get out of the private arena and on to the public agenda. "And the Desk and Ms. O'Neal, still bear the wounds from taking that very private issue and making it a public concern." Mrs. Frett-Georges also tributed the officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, who as the frontline respondents, have taken a lot of blame. She stressed the importance of all the agencies working together to come up with a collective response to deal with domestic violence. She also announced that plans are underway to expand the mandate of the Women's Desk into the Gender Affairs Unit, to focus more on the needs and concerns of men.