Minister of Family, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo (FP)??
Within a few days, the Ministry of Youth, Family and Sports, in collaboration with the Bureau of Gender Affairs, will launch a national hotline for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.
The telephone number will be released by the Minister of Family, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, this Saturday, February 13, during a press briefing in the main conference room of the Ministry of Education, Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael.
Dr. Byer Suckoo stressed that the introduction of a hotline showed Government’s commitment to addressing the scourge of domestic violence, since it would allow direct contact with the victims and perpetrators.
"The newly formed Ministry of Youth, Family and Sports has identified domestic violence as a major area of concern, primarily because of the number of calls we have received from the victims and their friends.
"We are starting to address this issue practically with the setting up of the hotline and this activity will go hand in hand with the legislative work which is currently under way," the Minister explained.
Last December, the Bureau received the national study to determine the prevalence and characteristics of domestic violence in Barbados. The research was conducted by the Caribbean Development Research Services Inc. The document contains a number of recommendations on policy, legislation and other activities which could have an effect on the incidence of domestic violence in Barbados.