Gov’t Taking Further Steps to Curtail Gender-Based Violence

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is taking further steps to curtail the troubling prevalence of gender-based violence, inequality and discrimination.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, says the interventions include the development of a budget for the new National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-based Violence, and the appointment of a Council to oversee its implementation along with the National Policy for Gender Equality, 2011.

She was making her 2017/18 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on May 30.

Ms. Grange said the Action Plan provides a platform for an integrated, multisectoral approach to address the critical issues and challenges impacting victims, perpetrators, and witnesses of acts of violence.

“Under the Plan, we are proposing the establishment of a minimum of three Regional Emergency Centres within the next two to three years for women fleeing violence and unsafe living conditions,” the Minister said.

She announced that the budget and implementation plan have been prepared and submitted to Cabinet and are being deliberated on by the Human Resource Committee.

Meanwhile, Ms. Grange informed the House that the Bureau of Gender Affairs has collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to develop an online platform that will be pivotal in heightening public awareness of gender-based violence.

“A key feature of the platform is the community section where persons can chat with others who have had similar experiences, in a safe, secure, anonymous space. The community chat helps victims and survivors to heal,” she explained.

Ms. Grange said the platform will be jointly managed by the Ministry and UNFPA.