Minister tells churches: Speak out on violence against women

YVONNE WEBB

FORMER Independent Senator the Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan used the pulpit at the Point Fortin Presbyterian Church on Sunday to call for an end to domestic violence against women and urged other churches to do the same.

Her advocacy comes days before the world commemorates International Women’s Day, on March 8 and the country records the murder of approximately nine women in differing violent domestic situations for 2018.

As the Presbyterian Church (PCTT) celebrates 150 years of witness in TT, Abdul-Mohan said it is part of the church’s mission to stop the violence against women.

“Like the rest of the population, the PCTT continues to be appalled by the rapid increase in violent crimes, and condemns unequivocally the overwhelming violence against citizens, in particular, women.”

She noted that violence against women does not have a particular face or class or race, but occurs in families from all walks of life.

“It is no respecter of persons. It takes places within all racial, socio-economic, religious and educational backgrounds and occurs far more often than most people imagine. Thus, this rampant violence against women in our beloved TT and around the world must become a priority concern for a church (PCTT) celebrating 150 years of witness and service,” she preached.

She endorsed a statement by Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, a former executive secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) that: “The church cannot embrace justice, peace and love if it fails to speak out, condemning violence against women as a sin.”

She questioned the role of the church for the past 150 years, asking, “Have we as a church been slow to address gender injustices? Have we, as a church and nation, become oblivious to the many forms of violence against women even within the communities we serve?”

She pointed out that in the last two decades, parts of the Caribbean have witnessed new levels of violence which have heightened the vulnerability of women.

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