End Violence against Women and Girls Now

November 27th, 2023

As the world commemorates the United Nation’s international campaign for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, TRINRE Insurance reaffirms its stance against gender-based violence, which continues to persist at alarming rates in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to reports from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service: Crime and Problem Analysis Branch, violence has claimed the lives of approximately 307 women over the past six years. In 2022, 57 women were murdered, 15 of these homicides were as a result of domestic violence.

When a woman’s life is taken as a result of violence, it leaves a dark stain on our society.  All too often, we see photos posted to social media of missing and murdered women and girls.  These photos serve as shameful reminders of how many women are robbed of the comfort to safely exist in their homes, and in public spaces.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stated that the prevalence of violence against women and girls, “Has led to acquiescence that it is somehow inevitable or impossible to end.” Such acceptance must not be allowed to happen in our society.  We must recognize and call gender-based violence what it is; a perverse human right’s violation which must not be ignored.

Eradicating gender-based violence takes the involvement of several organizations, and we want to applaud the United Nation’s “Spotlight Initiative” which works towards the elimination of violence against women and girls. In March of this year, they launched The National Clinical Policy Guidelines on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Sexual Violence: Trinidad and Tobago. One hundred copies of the Guidelines and Information Technology (IT) equipment were handed over, with the aim to improve data collection and strengthen our health care sector’s response to gender-based violence. The ongoing training of our doctors and nurses to identify and respond to survivor’s needs is a crucial step towards ending violence against women and girls.

According to the National Women’s Health Survey for Trinidad and Tobago, after family and friends, women most often turn to healthcare professionals for help. A visit to a health clinic or hospital is one of the few opportunities for some women to go out alone, and they may feel more inclined to speak out or ask for help.

TRINRE remains committed to supporting organizations like The Shelter for Battered Women and Children and Hope Centre for Abused and Abandoned children, who continue to be a beacon of hope for women and children who are in abusive situations.  We applaud these organizations exemplary efforts to protect women and children, and we wish to encourage women in abusive situations to find the courage to seek help.

It is also important that we address the root of the problem, and call on men to hold themselves accountable for their actions, and to seek help to control their anger.  Moreover, all men must be allies in this fight and reject violence as a means of conflict resolution, especially with their partners. We also call on educators to include programs that will teach children values of love and respect.  Together, we can promote positive behavioral changes, which can result in safety and security for all women.