Activists: More must be done to stop gender-based violence

More must be done to stop gender violence, especially attacks against women. This was the position of an online panel on gender violence and justice hosted by the Living Water Community on Friday.

Folade Mutota, executive director and one of the three founders of the Women's Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD), invited women to have courage to face situations of violence.

She gave as an example the latest violent deaths of women in TT. Last week, an 18-year-old schoolgirl was found dead in Santa Cruz, after she went missing, and the body of mother of two washed ashore in Balandra after the van she was driving was found crashed on the beach.

"We must continue fighting to eradicate violence against women, this is a work of many years and of many organizations, but we are sure that we are on the right track with the support of all," said Mutota.

President of the Equal Opportunities Commission Lynette Seebaran-Suite dealt with crimes against women as she addressed the right to justice.

"Sexual rapes, physical or psychological assaults, prostitution, everything is prohibited in Trinidad and Tobago protected by the laws and supported by the security forces," she said.

Seebaran-Suite said there is a legal recourse – a protection order which can be applied for before a court without the need to go to the police, or with the support of a lawyer.

"There will be an individual hearing and the assailants can receive restraining orders," she said.

ASP Claire Guy-Alleyne, head of the Gender-based Violence Unit, said the police has nine divisions and each one has a gender unit which allows greater monitoring and support to victims.

"We carry out communications with different government systems and with community members, with the aim of raising awareness about gender inequality and its consequences in order to eradicate the horror of violence in society," said Guy-Alleyne.

She said since the formation of the unit there have been more than 260 arrests and more than 300 formal criminal charges.

"Violations of protection orders and assaults are the accusations most handled by these units and we want each person in TT to understand and abide by the laws. If they see something strange they should report it, everyone should trust the police and report it," she said.