Elga Salvador | Surviving domestic violence in Jamaica

Anna* is a survivor of domestic violence living in Jamaica. She said the father of her first child physically and verbally abused her for three of the five years of their relationship and became worse after she became pregnant.

“He would get angry and beat me even at my workplace. I tried to leave on many occasions, but he always sweet me up, so I stayed with the hope he would change. He never changed, and the abuse became worse. I lived in constant fear because if I told him ‘I am leaving’, he would threaten me.”

Anna made several reports to the police; however, she said that she did not receive any help at the time. Additionally, she said her abuser would threaten to kill her if she went to the police.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic, or national boundaries. The United Nations’ definition of GBV is, “any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and that is based on socially ascribed differences between males and females. It results, or is likely to result, in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering.

Anna is one of many GBV survivors worldwide. While GBV is not limited to violence against women and girls, according to World Health Organization data from 2021, almost one in every three women, or approximately 736 million women, have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their lifetime. This does not account for the 1 woman every 11 minutes who is killed by her partner (UNODC, 2020).

HIGH PREVALENCE

Jamaica has a high prevalence of domestic violence compounded by beliefs and traditions. According to recent statistics, 28 per cent of women in Jamaica experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In 2018, 71 per cent of girls under 18 who were victims of crime had been raped. Two out of 10 girls aged 15 to 19 years think it is okay for a husband or partner to hit his wife or partner, and 85 per cent of children experience violent discipline at home. Additionally, a plethora of headlines and stories in the media outline horrific incidents of GBV. In fact, according to JCF statistics, 133 women were killed by their partners in 2021.

Putting it into perspective, one woman was killed every two to three days. Can you imagine that? So it is clear that there is much that needs to be done to address this issue.

The Spotlight Initiative, funded by the European Union, has invested €8 million over three years on a range of efforts to prevent and reduce family violence, which mostly affects girls and women. Family violence refers to acts of abuse and aggression in family or close-knit relationships. This includes domestic violence, intimate partner violence, child sexual abuse and corporal punishment.

Ten Domestic Violence Intervention Centres (DVICs) were established across Jamaica under the initiative. They are located at police stations but set apart from the general hub of the station. Each DVIC is run by trained police officers offering intervention through counseling, referrals, la enforcement interventions, protection, follow-up, home visits, and other services. While the establishment of the centres was spearheaded by the United Nations Development Fund, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports the DVICs by providing training to the police officers on how to provide quality, coordinated, and survivor-centred support to survivors).

Anna is one of many survivors who have benefited from the DVICs, and she was happy to share that part of her story. “In 2022, I was sharing my story with someone who informed me about the Domestic Violence Intervention Centre”, she said. “I was afraid to come because of the experience I had received at the police station, and I wasn’t sure if I would get any help. I then became brave and visited the office. I was very nervous. I was welcomed to the office where I was given a seat in a room. I was interviewed by one of the police officers, and I felt very comfortable sharing my story. I was no longer afraid to speak about it.”

FELT SAFE

Anna said that she felt safe and supported when she went to the DVIC. “Before coming to the centre, I had no support from family or friends. I was stressed out and saw no way out. The centre is the best place I have come. The support from the team is very good. It eased all the stress. I was able to speak freely and openly about my feelings. It felt like the safest place on earth.”

She also explained that the officers at the centre were well trained and provided her with the right guidance and information.

“They informed and guided me about applying for a protection order, and I did. I went to court, and my baby’s father did not show up. The judge denied the order because I wasn’t explaining my situation properly. It was my first time at court, so I was nervous. I came out of court and I broke down. I felt like giving up because I tried all the options and the court was the last hope I had. They told me to remain calm, but I couldn’t. [...] We went back to the judge. I was better able to explain myself, and the judge granted the order. I felt relieved and started to laugh again.”

Anna also had some words of advice for the perpetrators of abuse. “I would like to tell perpetrators of violence that no form of abuse is acceptable. No matter what happens, there is no excuse. I would encourage them to seek help by finding someone to talk to, especially if children are involved.”

The Spotlight Initiative approaches family violence as a major public-health and development issue. Implementation has been led by a number of UN agencies, including UNFPA, working very closely with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the Ministry of Health, as well as civil society organizations.

*Real name not used to protect identity and safety of the individual

Elga Salvador is gender and GBV specialist, Pillar 4 Focal Point for Jamaican Spotlight Initiative at UNFPA. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.

If you or anyone you know is in a violent situation, help is available. You can call the available helplines or one of the several DVICs across Jamaica that you can visit. Your situation will be treated confidentially and you will be given the kind of help that you need. Call or whatsapp the Helpline 876-553-0372 or the DVIC +1 (876) 224-4274-5