C.D.F. Launches a Campaign to Prevent Family Violence
The Child Development Foundation launched a campaign that seeks to prevent family violence. The campaign will engage private sector through the use of posters and educational sessions. Executive Director Diana Shaw says that the campaign will help to identify those at risk and help them to access services. Here’s more from Shaw at Wednesday’s virtual campaign launch.
Diana Shaw, Executive Director, Child Development Foundation
“We are trying to get the non-traditional actors, not just the NGOs who are already involved in this issue but those who are involved in the business sector at the community level, in particular, to see how they can also join the network of persons at the community level who can spread awareness and who can help to identify and refer women and children to services so that they can receive assistance. So, essentially, what we are doing is that we are inviting private sector entities who want to be a part of the campaign to agree to display a poster in their establishment, in a prominent place where the public will see it that will help to bring awareness to domestic violence and child abuse and then to nominate someone from their organization to participate in virtual sessions that CDF will be holding from time to time to increase awareness and also to ensure that we expand people’s understanding on how they can help to identify victims, how they can help to provide sensitive intervention and to know how to adequately refer persons to services. So, when they participate in these training sessions they will become focal point for their organization, to be able to share and spread the information within their organizations because there may be persons in the organizations who are vulnerable to violence and they need assistance, they need to know where to refer them. But also to the members of public who come to the establishments, particularly pharmacies, supermarkets and businesses that sell food – people that are dealing with the public. There is somebody who is coming to your establishment and you recognize that this person is in need of assistance and they are concerned that this person is a victim of domestic violence or there may be some child abuse situation happening that you know how to make a referral.”
The campaign will start in the Cayo district and expand to the rest of the country. Participating entities will also be included in community education activities once those resume.
