Human Rights Commission urges Trinidad and Tobago: Treat gender-based violence urgently

THE Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has called on the government to redouble efforts to address gender-based violence (GBV).

It appealed for measures to change discriminatory socio-cultural patterns that normalise violence against women, especially in the domestic and intimate partner contexts.

The call, issued in a media release on November 7, came following four domestic violence-related murders in October and several reports of attacks on women in recent weeks.

“These acts were perpetrated by partners or ex-partners of the victims. In some cases, the victims would have been beneficiaries of protection measures that were not implemented. These are not isolated cases but are part of a broader context of violence against women and impunity related to this type of crime.

“According to data from UN Women, 44 per cent of women in Trinidad and Tobago who have ever been in a relationship have suffered violence, whether physical, sexual, emotional and/or economic. Official data said between January and August 21, 2024, at least 1,227 cases of domestic violence in the form of physical violence and 117 cases in the form of sexual abuse were reported, of which only five persons were charged in total. In addition, for the same period, 111 breaches of protection orders were registered, of which less than half resulted in charges.”

The release said within the framework of the Convention of Belém Do Pará, the State has the duty to guarantee that all women have access to effective protection measures and judicial guarantees. It said the effectiveness of these measures is essential to prevent violence from escalating to femicide.

“The IACHR urges the State of Trinidad and Tobago to take concrete measures to ensure that any victim or potential victim of GBV has access to timely and effective protection measures, which integrate differentiated approaches to gender and intersectionality. It must also ensure its proper implementation through monitoring, supervision, and accountability mechanisms.

“In addition, the commission urges the state to conduct diligent investigations that lead to the identification and punishment of those responsible, in addition to ensuring victims' access to comprehensive care services and reparation.”

The commission said it recognised the government’s efforts to combat violence against women, such as the National Strategic Plan of Action on GBV and Sexual Violence and the High Court decision which recognised the State's obligation to protect victims of domestic violence from the actions of non-State actors.

Other plans being put in place by the government include a men’s bureau, a women, peace and protection national action plan and the survivors transformation and empowerment programme (STEP), among others.

Conflict Women head Asiya Mohammed, in a cellphone interview with Newsday on November 9, said the statement meant that Trinidad and Tobago, as a Caricom member state, was being spotlighted across the region based on the rising rate of femicides. Conflict Women is an NGO which trains survivors of domestic violence in jewellery making and selling, ensuring they have economic independence.

She said the statement was aligned to the specific recommendations made to Trinidad and Tobago during the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review (UPR) on November 9, 2021. Section 108.43 of the UPR called on Trinidad and Tobago to “strengthen efforts to combat domestic and GBV by ensuring the systematic prosecution of all cases of violence against women and girls and adopting prevention programmes.”

Mohammed said Conflict Women had consistently been calling for a special court to address GBV. She said prevention of GBV is a critical pillar in the fight.

“The IACHR press release talks about socio-cultural beliefs and stereotypes, and so I think we need more sensitisation, public awareness campaigns specifically around the issue of GBV that are geared towards men and boys. At the same time as we are taking those preventative measures, we need to recognise that punishment and justice provide deterring factors.

“While we undertake measures to prevent further incidents of GBV, which should start from the schools and go up, we also need to make sure that our judicial system is effectively addressing GBV cases in a timely fashion.”

Mohammed said while she recognises the government is doing a lot to fight GBV, there needed to be an even more urgent approach given the rise in femicides and attacks.

In a statement to the PM on October 24, a coalition of 19 civil society organisations called for specific actions to prevent and respond to violence against women and children in light of the murders of Tara Ramsaroop and her daughter Shemaya Jada Motilal, Sunita Mohammed, and Laura Sankar in October, and the August killings of Kiefer Wilson and Mariah Boodram.

The coalition, called the Alliance for State Action to End GBV, reiterated a call for a case-by-case review of each femicide to analyse key contributing factors, including where protocols and processes meant to protect and serve survivors broke down. It said in some of these cases, reports were made to the police and protection orders were in place.

“The Ministry of Education and the Children's Authority are pivotal to addressing family violence. The Ministry of Education is responsible for ensuring that children's educational and social well-being are prioritised, identifying students at risk due to domestic violence, and providing student support services that are rooted in safeguarding. The Children's Authority, mandated to safeguard children's freedom from abuse, must collaborate closely with the police when family violence is reported, conducting investigations and removing children from dangerous environments when necessary.

“However, effective intervention requires streamlined co-ordination between these agencies to ensure that protective measures are promptly activated. The current system often faces challenges due to delays in communication, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and poor oversight. The recent events highlight the need for more efficient inter-agency collaboration to protect children from the impact of family violence.”

The coalition urged the government to determine the extent to which the police service, the National Security Ministry, the Legal Affairs Ministry and the Children’s Authority adhered to their legislative responsibilities in each case.

“We call on cabinet members, ministers, the police service, the courts and court bearers to execute their mandate in a moral and efficient manner with the safety and security of the citizenry as paramount.

The alliance called for the increased involvement of CSOs which provide community support in decision-making related to the state's response to violence.

“The Alliance for State Action to End GBV acknowledges our shared history of trauma and the need for a ‘whole of society approach’ which is integrated across state institutions with a responsibility for ending violence and supporting survivors. We caution against indifference and desensitisation to violence in our society and particularly to family violence.

“While we call for an immediate response by the government including the cabinet, and relevant ministries and institutions, we reiterate our commitment to community-based solutions and long term interventions at the local government level that build trust and reduce divisions as we come together to heal past wounds.”