NEWS

ANTIGUA
Parliament refuses debate on domestic violence bill

Women of Antigua received another slap in the face in January when all but two Government ministers refused to debate legislation on domestic violence.

But women’s rights activists have been given assurances that hearing of the Bill would not be deferred beyond the next sitting of the House and that it would be placed high on the agenda.

The Bill, which was tabled by the Attorney General seeks to condemn all forms of violence against women and agrees to pursue, by all appropriate means, policies to prevent, punish and eradicate such violence.

If passed into law, the Bill would require the perpetrator to refrain from harassing, intimidating or threatening the woman or using any method that harms or endangers her life or integrity, or damages her property. In-camera proceedings for dealing with domestic matters such as divorce will also be incorporated in the Bill.

The most fundamental objection to the Bill seems to be its perceived imbalances, with questions about its necessity also being raised.

BELIZE
Domestic violence rampant

An October 1998 study on the incidence of domestic violence in Belize has confirmed that domestic violence is “indeed rampant” and that the leading cause is the abuse of alcohol. Next on the list of major causes of domestic violence was the use of illicit drugs followed by unemployment, jealousy and having an” outside affair”.

The study area consisted of the Belize district subdivided into the Bermudian Landing, Norhside Belize City, Southside Belize City, Ladyville, Gales Point, Maskall and Crooked Tree.

Conducted by the Belize Organization for Women and Development (BOWAND), the study showed that the majority of women stayed in such a situation “because of the children, an inability to fend for themselves or because they have nowhere to go”.

The researchers have recommended counseling and rehabilitation programs for the perpetrators of domestic violence. They are also calling for the creation and strengthening of institutional mechanisms so that women and girls can report acts of violence in a safe and confidential environment, free from the fear of penalties or retaliations. Well-funded shelters and relief support for victims of domestic violence are also included in the list of recommendations, among others.

BOWAND has also teamed up with the Department of Women’s Affairs and the Family Court to establish a network of female attorneys to provide free legal consultation and/or representation for female victims who cannot afford to pay.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Survey on women farmers

More than 60 per cent of women farmers in the British Virgin Islands are over 55 years old, head their households and have access to only two acres or less of land.

The findings revealed that more than 59 per cent of the women surveyed had farmed for more than 20 years but the vast majority (70 per cent) did not belong to any farmer’s group. The women funded their operations with their own capital.

In terms of market, most of the women took their produce to the marketplace in Road Town. Less than 30 per cent supplied supermarkets, hotels and restaurants.

The Survey of Women Farmers was a joint project of the Women’s Desk and the Department of Agriculture to highlight women’s contribution to agriculture. Sixty-five women farmers out of an approximate total of 80 were surveyed.

Survey findings will be published shortly and will be used to guide government policy and as aid to program development.

GRENADA
Shelter for Women

The Cedars Shelter for abused women and children at Madeys, St Patrick, Grenada, was officially opened earlier this year by Her Excellency Lady Gloria Williams.

The building was refurbished by government at a cost of approximately $700,000 while the French Government, through Alliance Françoise, donated Ff140,000 for furniture.

The facility can house more than 30 persons.

GUYANA
Guyanese woman on seven-day fast

Karen De Souza, long-standing activist of the Working People’s Alliance and Red Thread, began a seven-day fast and vigil opposite the National Assembly, Georgetown, on Monday, February 8, 1999, to protest the rising tide of social ills in Guyana.

In an earlier statement on the reason for the vigil, De Souza identified violent killings, the battering of women, the ineptitude of the legal system and the callousness of high officials among the major issues of concern.

De Souza called her protest action “a vigil for conscience, vigil for hope” and urged all Guyanese “of conscience to discuss individual and collective actions to end this culture of callousness and brutality”

The vigil received widespread support from individuals and organizations in Guyana, the Caribbean and further a field including CAFRA, CIPAF and the Catholic Community. Messages came in from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.

Women Across Differences Launched

Women Across Differences WAD, a new women’s organization, was officially launched in March 1999, in Guyana. WAD’s aim is to create a space for women to work together, regardless of racial, political, cultural on other differences.

Executive member of WAD, Dr Janice Jackson said the movement had its genesis back in 1996 at a symposium on Gender and Poverty when women’s rights activist, Andaiye, spoke of the need for a “women’s thing”.

In order to get the movement off the ground, WAD has received funding form the Canada-Caribbean Gender Equity Fund to set up an institutional base and support from OXFAM for an initiative called Women’s Truth Encounters.

JAMAICA
Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays

The Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays or J-FLAG was launched on International Human Rights Day, December 1998, in Jamaica.

A release signed by Brian Williamson said J-FLAG is “committed to moving forward in a spirit of oneness, love, dignity and respect towards the establishment of a world devoid of prejudice, injustice, discrimination and oppression…”

The release said a steering committee of 100 persons had been already established and that the organization will engage in initiatives that will foster “the acceptance and enrichment of the lives of same-gender loving persons who have been, and continue to be, an integral part of society.”

Members calculate that their current membership base is approximately 2,000. The new movement has already received one death threat.

AWOJA bounces back

AWOJA is back on its feet again. After a lull in operations and the sorting out of the either internal problem, the Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF), Germany, has reinstated the funding of the organization for a further three years.

Under a three-year agreement with the HBF, AWOJA should have received disbursements of DM200,000 (approx. J$4.2M) per year from 1997 to 1999.

However, in April 1998, the Foundation, which provides the cash to run AWOJA’s office, cut off funds pending improvements in AWOJA’s ability to perform the role it had set out to do.

AWOJA has since reorganized its operations and redeveloped its links with 20 of the 26 member women’s groups in Jamaica.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
CAFRA calendar competition for youths

CAFRA (T&T) is sponsoring a Year 2000 Calendar Competition under the theme “youth: The Force Behind an Equal Society.”

The competition is open to young persons, between the ages of 13 and 25. They should be from youth and sports groups, schools and churches. Individuals are also welcome.

The grand prize is a trip to a CAFRA member country and eligibility to enter the regional competition. The other prizes include art classes and vouchers for art supplies. Entries will be judged in three categories, according to age.

Videos for gender sensitization

The Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs recently concluded a training and gender sensitization program, to expose a number of individuals and groups to gender concepts so they could better address ender concepts in their development policies.

The program is a component of the IDB/Government of Trinidad and Tobago program of Institutional Strengthening of the Gender Affairs Division of the Ministry.

As part of the gender sensitization program, four videos were viewed during a breakfast seminar at Cascadia Hotel, St. Ann’s on January 26, 1999.

Smart Young Man targets male’s aged 16 to 50 and deals with abuse and disrespect of women and the social factors influencing gender behavior.

A Brief Economic History of Trinidad and Tobago is a satirical look at important historical moments as a way of setting the stage for a discussion about the present and the future.

Power targets teenagers and young adults. Its focus is the promotion of self-respect, respect for others and responsible communication about intimacy issues.

metamorphosis is a video for women of all ages and backgrounds. It is a woman’s offering of thanksgiving to the women who have gone before. It is also a celebration of past accomplishments.

Organizers of the video seminar wish to point out that “video is not a cure-all for gender sensitivity training. At best, it is a useful tool for opening up reluctant participants to discussions about gender because it moves inevitably sensitive issues away from “us” out on to a “TV screen” long enough to get participants talking.”