BROAD PARTNERSHIPS NECESSARY TO CHALLENGE THE SCOURGE
OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN - February 15, 2017
OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN - February 15, 2017
Parenting Partners Caribbean (PPC) fully supports the call by the various civic action groups seeking to inform and influence the government, the church, communities and individuals to unite their efforts to end the violence especially against women and children and to ensure support for traumatised survivors and families.
Because family violence so often spills out into broader acts of violence within society, PPC is grateful to the 51% Coalition for its call for supported and sustained partnerships in a united frontal attack on the increase of violence, particularly against women and children.
At an energetic “Meeting of the Minds” on 7th February 2017, more than 70 women and men met to propose actions to address the rising incidence of violence against women and girls in Jamaica. These persons represented 25 non-government, civil society and government organisations meeting under the umbrella of the 51% Coalition, and agreed on the urgency of:
PPC wishes to emphasise that much of the violence against women and girls has its origins within families. Domestic violence and corporal punishment demonstrate to children the violent “solutions” to conflict. Lack of guidance, information and supervision leaves children vulnerable to predators. Abused children, without effective
interventions, often grow into angry, “uncontrollable” adults. Too many parents offer their children no—or very little—accurate sexual education as they grow up, leaving them confused and open to exploitation.
“We need more parenting education!” is a frequent call within discussions across the country when community groups and organisations address the many social ills they face. Many communities and organisations strive to offer parenting programmes, but suffer from lack of material and financial resources to maintain the efforts that can make a real difference. One-shot parent workshops cannot begin to address the needs that parents have for support and education.
In its over 25 years of working on issues of parenting across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, PPC can testify to the positive impact parenting courses have, when as they strengthen parent self-confidence, provide skills related to discipline and behaviour management with children, and develop networks of mutual parent support within communities. Learning alternatives to physical and verbal abuse within the family produces not only grateful parents, but grateful and better behaved children.
Participating in the February 7th meeting, PPC member Colleen Wint-Bond referenced research that indicates that gender distinctions and assumptions are central to most child rearing practices. This is evident in gender preferences at birth, division of domestic chores, sanctioned leisure activities, preferred social values and skills, practices of discipline, exhibition of affection and expression of emotions, and in preparing children to manage their sexuality. In supporting the strengthening of organisational partnerships, she noted that “just as mixed messages within families can cause serious dysfunction, likewise, mixed messages among organisations and the government, especially regarding gender, discipline, sexual relations, etc. will continue contributing to greater national dysfunction.”
Parenting Partners Caribbean is a not-for-profit company registered in Jamaica and which operates with partners throughout the Caribbean and the Diaspora. The 51% Coalition is an alliance of women, women’s organizations and partners. The “Meeting of the Minds” took place at the at the Jamaica Suite, Phoenix Central in Kingston, Jamaica.
Because family violence so often spills out into broader acts of violence within society, PPC is grateful to the 51% Coalition for its call for supported and sustained partnerships in a united frontal attack on the increase of violence, particularly against women and children.
At an energetic “Meeting of the Minds” on 7th February 2017, more than 70 women and men met to propose actions to address the rising incidence of violence against women and girls in Jamaica. These persons represented 25 non-government, civil society and government organisations meeting under the umbrella of the 51% Coalition, and agreed on the urgency of:
- allocating2017 funds for shelters for abused women, one in every parish;
- calling on the Prime Minister, head of the Social Partnership, to “step up and lead” on this issue;
- strengthening restorative justice and psychological support services for victims;
- providing more counselling and mentoring programmes for youth;
- strengthening community policing, and specialised training for police to deal with abuse cases;
- “targeted activism” in schools, communities and the workplace; and
- using critical “touch points” such as health services for speedier interventions.
PPC wishes to emphasise that much of the violence against women and girls has its origins within families. Domestic violence and corporal punishment demonstrate to children the violent “solutions” to conflict. Lack of guidance, information and supervision leaves children vulnerable to predators. Abused children, without effective
interventions, often grow into angry, “uncontrollable” adults. Too many parents offer their children no—or very little—accurate sexual education as they grow up, leaving them confused and open to exploitation.
“We need more parenting education!” is a frequent call within discussions across the country when community groups and organisations address the many social ills they face. Many communities and organisations strive to offer parenting programmes, but suffer from lack of material and financial resources to maintain the efforts that can make a real difference. One-shot parent workshops cannot begin to address the needs that parents have for support and education.
In its over 25 years of working on issues of parenting across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, PPC can testify to the positive impact parenting courses have, when as they strengthen parent self-confidence, provide skills related to discipline and behaviour management with children, and develop networks of mutual parent support within communities. Learning alternatives to physical and verbal abuse within the family produces not only grateful parents, but grateful and better behaved children.
Participating in the February 7th meeting, PPC member Colleen Wint-Bond referenced research that indicates that gender distinctions and assumptions are central to most child rearing practices. This is evident in gender preferences at birth, division of domestic chores, sanctioned leisure activities, preferred social values and skills, practices of discipline, exhibition of affection and expression of emotions, and in preparing children to manage their sexuality. In supporting the strengthening of organisational partnerships, she noted that “just as mixed messages within families can cause serious dysfunction, likewise, mixed messages among organisations and the government, especially regarding gender, discipline, sexual relations, etc. will continue contributing to greater national dysfunction.”
Parenting Partners Caribbean is a not-for-profit company registered in Jamaica and which operates with partners throughout the Caribbean and the Diaspora. The 51% Coalition is an alliance of women, women’s organizations and partners. The “Meeting of the Minds” took place at the at the Jamaica Suite, Phoenix Central in Kingston, Jamaica.