Esperance SI supports Orange the World GBV campaign

MEMBERS of Soroptimist International (SI) Esperance, along with other global organisations, joined the United Nations’ UNiTE to End Violence Against Women campaign to Orange the World.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) began on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day. This year the theme is Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect! The colour orange was chosen years ago as the symbol of a brighter future free from violence against women and girls.

GBV refers to harmful acts directed at an individual or a group based on their gender and takes many forms, and according to a release from SI Esperance, one in three women will face gender-based violence in her lifetime.

This year the covid19 pandemic touched the lives of everyone. As countries implemented lockdown measures to stop the spread of the virus, violence against women intensified, particularly domestic violence. In some countries, the release said, there has been a five-fold increase in calls to help lines. TT has not escaped the upsurge of the "shadow pandemic" as there has been a marked increase in reported cases. The most prevalent types of violence against women in TT are domestic violence (physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, economic), human trafficking and sexual exploitation and online or digital violence (cyber- bullying, grooming, sexting, doxing).

SI Esperance has been creating an awareness of violence against women and possible ways of alleviating it through its social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram, the release said, through daily original posts as well as shared ones.

The club has done a series of videos on domestic violence and offers coping strategies. Sasha Baldeosingh, clinical mental health therapist of Lifelong Living Counselling Service created a series of five videos entitled Love is Kind – Stop Domestic Violence. Vice president of SI Esperance Sen Jayanti Lutchmedial prepared a video which gives practical advice from a legal perspective.

Men who advocated for the prevention of domestic violence via video are journalist Akash Samaroo, councillor Nicholas Kanhai and Yohance Ayodike. These videos, and other club projects can be viewed on its Facebook and Instagram pages, on its YouTube Channel and website.

The club has also assisted The Halfway House which provides a safe haven for domestic violence and human trafficking victims. President Cheryl Boodoosingh recently presented a cheque to Soroptimist Ursula de Castro who received it on behalf of The Halfway House board.

In partnership with The InterClub of TT, members also paint several benches in Palmiste Park to in orange to affix messages advocating the prevention of human trafficking (800 4CTU); and domestic violence (800 SAVE). SI Esperance is one of 19 women’s clubs in The InterClub of TT.

SI Esperance's #CovidComfort programme has also provided hampers, sewing machines, masks, household items, computers, tablets, schoolbooks and seedlings for food.