Police Officers Attend Domestic Violence Seminar

It was heart-warming to see 26 police officers among the 169 men and women at the Second Regional Conference on Sexual and Domestic Violence, held in The Bahamas, from November 4 – 7, 1998.

The conference was part of the Regional Women’s Human Rights campaign and its theme was similar to the campaign slogan – "A Life Free of Violence: It’s Our Right”.

Two workshops, which dealt with “Honoring the Survivor” and “Men against Violence”, were among the highlights of the sessions. Rev. K. Celeste Barrett of New Providence led the sessions on honoring the survivor. Women spoke of their experiences of sexual abuse as children, physical abuse by partners and other forms of violence.

Vidyaratha Kisson’s workshop on “Men Against Violence” was the first of its kind in New Providence. This session looked at men’s participation in the movement to end violence against women. A new men’s group is developing locally, out of the workshop.

On the whole, police officers attending the conference felt the experience had significantly changed their understanding of the problems of sexual and domestic violence. Workshops ranged form topics such as Play Therapy for Children to Domestic Violence and the Church, Domestic Violence and the Police, Child Abuse and the Caribbean Experience, and Effects on Children who Witness Domestic Violence.

Participants for the three-day conference came from 21 countries throughout the Caribbean. The guest speakers included Dr Eudine Barriteau, Director, Centre for Gender and Development Studies; Dr Neil Cabe, Rainbeau Northfield Counseling Centre, Ohio, USA; Joe Ann Fletcher, Florida, USA; Dr Bonnie Robson, Canada; Elaine Schieck, London Family Court Clinic, London, Ontario, Canada; Dr Jacqueline Sharpe, Trinidad and Tobago. Welcome remarks came from Dr Joycelin Massiah, Regional Coordinator, UNIFEM’s Caribbean office.

It is hoped that participation by Caribbean delegates in this workshop would ensure stronger links between crisis centers throughout the region. It is also expected to create a wide r and more informed Caribbean community, capable of responding to our common needs.