Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Freundel Stuart (FP)????

Government stands ready to assist in wiping out the scourge of domestic violence.

Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Freundel Stuart, gave this assurance last night, as he addressed the awards ceremony in recognition of the 10th Anniversary of the Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Shelter for Abused Women at the Warrens Complex.

The Attorney General told the audience that although the Domestic violence Protection Act was passed in Barbados since 1992, domestic violence was still prevalent here and should not be taken lightly.

The Minister noted that violence does not seek out any particular class or race and no effort must be spared in trying to root it out. "Domestic Violence is still a disfiguring scar and too often it is still seen as a taboo subject.?? We must seek to empower our women through decent work and access to education.?? No one has the right to be demoralised in such a horrific manner," he asserted.

Meanwhile, President of the BPW Shelter, Nalita Gajadhar revealed that over the last 10 years there had been 27 reported victims of domestic violence in Barbados. "Violence of women is now a global epidemic and unfortunately, many still see it as a natural part of human condition," she opined.

In explaining that part of the shelter’s mandate was to help battered women become self-sufficient, Ms. Gajadhar lamented that it [the shelter] could not provide for all.?? She declared: "We need adequate housing for these women as they transition from living at the shelter and getting their lives in order, as very often they leave this environment and go right back to their abuser, because they have nowhere else to go and they are financially dependent,"?? she disclosed.

tblackman@barbados.gov.bb

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