Zero in on gender-based violence, Soroptimists urge

There’s a real need to focus on tackling violence against women and girls, Andrea Farmer, president of the Soroptimist International Jamestown, said Tuesday as the volunteer organisation launched 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

She said: “[Violence] is a problem. It is something that we really need to address greatly, but we also have to address the problem of violence against anyone in general.

“We see women as the most vulnerable, but there are boys that are being exploited as well and being abused and girls and so I think we have to do something about it.”

Farmer and four other Soroptomist sisters were at the time assembled as Parliament convened at Worthing

They led students from the St Michael, Ellerslie and Alexandra schools and girl guides and rangers from other schools to give orange ribbons and information packages to legislators as they made their way into the Lower Chamber.

Home Affairs Minister Wilfred Abrahams briefly addressed the students, underscoring the point that gender-based violence is a serious issue.

Abrahams challenged the students to go further than handing out ribbons and information, as he urged them to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to violence.

“Talk to people your age, talk to people in your community, talk to your family,” he declared.

“Anytime you see somebody bullying someone, it doesn’t even have to gender based, once you see a stronger person taking advantage of a weaker person it is your duty to speak up and do something about it.  You have  to help those who are less able to help themselves, know what is right.”

Farmer said her organisation would continue to focus on advocacy and build awareness about the scourge.

On Thursday, the Soroptimists will host a panel discussion in collaboration with the National Organisation of Women, the University of the West Indies Open Campus and the Women and Development Unit on The Signs of Relationship Abuse via virtual meeting from 7 p.m. (SD)