Gender, Child Affairs Division marks start of 16 days of activism against GBV

THE Gender and Child Affairs Division of the Office of the Prime Minister hosted a National Youth Rally in commemoration of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence on November 25. The period is usually observed from November 25-December 10 each year.

The rally was hosted at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s Port of Spain and was attended by the students from a number of secondary schools.

A statement from UN Women on November 25 said femicide remained pervasive globally.

The day marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

“Globally, 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2023,” the statement said.

It added 60 per cent of those homicides were committed by an intimate partner or family member.

The data from Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides said 140 women and girls died every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which meant that a woman or girl was killed every ten minutes.

In March, government launched the National Strategic Action Plan on GBV and sexual violence.

This acts as a response-and-prevention guide for government, its agencies, the private sector, businesses, families and communities.