Domestic Violence – There is a Way Out!
Last week, we told you about the troubling issue of gender-based violence, with a look at how women and girls are mostly affected. In the second part of our story, we look at some of the measures in place to help those who are affected by this violence. While a lot more has to be done to address the cultural attitudes toward domestic abuse, there is also a need for legislative reform and additional support for survivors. In this story, we tell you about some of the short-comings and what local agencies are doing to tackle this issue.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Globally, one in three women will experience some form of violence, sexual or domestic abuse. And abuse doesn’t discriminate – it reaches women of all ages and different backgrounds. Khalilah Martin Williams knows this all too well. She is a social worker who was attacked by her partner. She is yet to get justice.
Khalilah Martin-Williams
Khalilah Martin-Williams, Domestic Abuse Survivor
“The night in question that it happened, he actually knocked me out in my house and cut my face open with a razor blade. He cut my face open and as you can see I left with a scar. He cut my face open and I ended up with ten stitches in my face. After leaving the police station, the police officer told him I couldn’t make a report because it would have been my word against his. They let him go and they cannot find him. One of the police officers, he made a comment that I was not happy with when he said, “Oh nuh worry about it because tomorrow they wah sweet again.” He said, “ma’am I will be honest with you because it is best you try to get your whole story together because I nuh see this the go dah court because you can’t prove that dah he knock you. So, I felt extremely judged especially by the police.”
The partners in the fight against domestic violence are still working to address the attitudes toward this serious issue. For this reason, the Youth Enhancement Services has been training public officers in the fight against gender-based violence. Just last year, they trained thirty cops because they are critical front liners. But one area that has proven difficult is to bring charges against the perpetrators because victims often decide to drop the charges. The Y.E.S. is taking a bold approach – they want to explore a constitutional change so that even if there isn’t a complainant, the matter can still be taken before the court.
Karen Cain
Karen Cain, Executive Director, Y.E.S.
“So what we are doing is to look at the Constitution, how is it that when violence is being perpetrated towards a woman and a woman decides to drop the charges, that the state can still press charges against that individual, so that he can be locked up for some reason or not given bail perhaps, just so that she knows that she can be safe.”
The 2018 statistics show that several factors were involved in 2061 reported cases of abuse. The report says that six hundred and seventy-three incidents had circumstances of misunderstanding; four hundred and nine were related to alcohol; while three hundred and forty-eight listed jealousy as a surrounding circumstance. And when looking at the age ranges affected, in 2018, seventy-three percent of the reports came from persons twenty-five and older, while twenty-five percent of the reports came from persons younger than twenty-four years old. No matter the reasons and ages targeted, it’s a violation of human rights that has significant social impacts.
Karen Cain
“It is a high cost because if that woman is employed, she loses days at work because there is less productivity from her and from her bringing home the money to help the family. At times that woman cannot come out to access help for healthcare because that man is always there watching so she can’t leave the home and so it impacts on her mental health and her physical health. The children seeing that become aggressive as well and some withdraw. So, domestic violence impacts the family; the community; and the economic.”
But there are options for those who are being abused. If you or someone you know is experiencing gender-based violence, you can call the hotline to make a report directly to the domestic violence unit within the Belize Police Department. The resources available to support women and girls affected by domestic violence are important in helping survivors rebuild. Haven House, which is a shelter for battered women, provides a safe home for abused women who have been referred for temporary safe housing.
Mindy Pratt
Mindy Pratt, Programme Coordinator, Haven House
“Some of our in house activities we do are skills training; we have baking; cooking; cake decorating; sewing. These are services that our house mothers do. Every case is unique and we do see persons go back, but what we do is that we always ensure that before they leave we do a safety plan with them knowing that it is okay if they choose to go back but knowing that they can come out again and access services. We will be there for help.”
There are many moving parts to address this pressing issue but as cases of abuse increase, one has to wonder – can Belize curb this growing problem?
Cynthia Williams
Cynthia Williams, Executive Director, National Women’s Commission
“Of course, I do think we can bring the numbers down but it will take quite a lot and not only from government because the expectation is that it must be done by government. Behaviour change is one of the areas that is most difficult – because it requires people to be open, honest and be able to change the way they see things. So, it requires quite a lot of sensitization and awareness. It also requires change in legislation so that those who perpetrate this kind of violence are receiving consequence for their actions. We need to ensure that we work not only with those are receiving the victims and surviving, but working with perpetrators; with parents; children. So, it requires a multi-level, multi-sectoral approach and response to the issue.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
