Women’s Week starts off with morning bike ride

Bright and early tomorrow morning Women=s Week will officially begin with a bike ride into the old capital. The event, like others planned over the next seven days, is designed to bring awareness and change to the disturbing issue of domestic violence. News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin reports.

Icilda Humes, Human Dev. Coordinator, Women’s Dept.
“There is no way we can win this fight if we do not have the support of men playing their role to help us end violence against women.”

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Organisers hope that powerful and emotional statement that will be echoed throughout Women’s Week 2007. Activities planned over the next six days are designed to unite men and women to end the violence.

Icilda Humes
“And we felt that this was quite a timely and appropriate theme taking into consideration the way 2006 ended and the way 2007 started, with the tragedies of three women being killed at the hands of their partners. So we felt that we needed to focus this year’s Women’s Week on that topic.”

The week officially starts off at six on Saturday morning with a bike rally which will begin at the corner of Western Avenue and the Western Highway.

Icilda Humes
“It’s an opportunity for individuals, for co-workers, for church congregations as a group to come out and ride in solidarity.”

“This year the cause is the Y.W.C.A.’s Helping Early Leavers Programme. And by riding for the cause we are asking all registered riders to contribute a dollar. It’s optional there is no registration fee attached, but it is a worthy cause so we are asking all riders to contribute a dollar.”

The first thirty riders to register at five-thirty in the morning will receive free water bottles. The top riders in specific categories will also be awarded trophies, cash prizes, and other gifts.

Icilda Humes
“At the end of the bike rally on Saturday, Y.W.C.A. will be having their annual post bike rally breakfast so please come out and support them it is six dollars for a full breakfast and there is a special discount for groups over twenty.”

Human Development Coordinator in Women’s Department Icilda Humes says no matter how young or old, everyone has a role to play in the fight against the abuse and violence. That very issue will be debated at the second annual Women’s Summit.

Icilda Humes
“Because a lot of what came out after these tragedies that happen to these women was the fact that who is doing what and why isn’t this agency doing more and why isn’t that agency doing more and we felt it’s important for people to look at the fight against domestic violence, the fight against violence against women as a multi-sectoral approach, it’s a multi-sectoral issue that has various players involved and we need as individuals as sectors to recognise what our roles are.”

The week will culminate with at cultural celebration and the Outstanding Women’s Award. Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.