Major survey finds most women suffered intimate partner violence

Nearly two in three women in Barbados have experienced some form of intimate partner violence, according to a landmark national survey that campaigners say exposes the hidden scale of gender-based abuse and the urgent need for coordinated national action.

 

The National Intimate Partner Violence survey revealed that 62 per cent of women have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence — a figure officials and advocates on gender-based violence said is likely an underestimation, given how many survivors still hesitate to disclose abuse.

 

Founder of Jabez House, Shamelle Rice, highlighted that the survey represented one of Barbados’ most comprehensive attempts to understand how intimate partner violence is experienced and perceived.

 

The survey, funded by the European Union, commissioned by Jabez House and led by DB Research Services, interviewed 515 individuals of different ages, genders, income levels and nationalities.

 

Emotional abuse emerged as the most prevalent form at 37 per cent, followed closely by social isolation and physical violence at 25 per cent and 22 per cent respectively. One of the most significant findings, however, showed that 46 per cent of respondents reported facing more than one category of abuse, suggesting that “violence often occurs as a pattern of behaviours rather than in isolation.”

 

The data, presented Thursday night at Splurge Cake Studio during the launch of the local observance of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, paints a troubling picture of how deeply violence is woven into the lives of women across the island.

 

The release of the national data coincided with the launch of the Red Shoes Project earlier this week. Introduced as part of Barbados’ commitment to the 16 Days of Activism, the project, also backed by the European Union, uses rows of striking red shoes to represent lives affected by gender-based violence. Together, they serve as a stark reminder that the 16 Days campaign is not simply advocacy but a call to confront the lived realities behind the numbers.

 

Speaking on behalf of the European Union at the launch of the survey, Ambassador Fiona Ramsay said the survey’s findings demand not just empathy but action. “Through the survey 62 per cent of women reported at least one or more instances of partner violence — this is not acceptable. Violence in any form is a betrayal and while a world without it is challenging to envision and build, we must collaborate to eradicate it on the global front.”
Ramsay also noted the growing impact of digital violence, pointing out that online spaces, intended to be liberating, have instead become new arenas for harassment, exploitation and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. She called for stronger protections, improved reporting systems and greater accountability from technology companies. “Digital products must be tools for protection, not platforms that endanger women and girls,” she said.

 

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Wayne Marshall, echoed the urgency of coordinated intervention. He said the ministry remains committed to strengthening both policy responses and frontline services.

 

“This survey provides the evidence we need to challenge harmful norms. This is not just the launch of the results but a moment of national reflection to inspire action. This is no longer a private tragedy but rather, a national emergency.”

 

Marshall also stressed that the government, NGOs and international partners must continue to pool resources and unite so that survivors have access to justice, psychological support and safe spaces. He framed the 16 Days as an essential reminder that progress requires cultural change as much as legislative reform.

(DT)