Stakeholders get tips on how to prevent gender-based violence |11 September 2015
A one-day workshop on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention was organised this week by the US embassy for Seychelles based in Mauritius in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports.
The aim of the workshop, held at the Care House at Freedom Square, was to educate and provide adequate information to those who took part on how to engage men in preventing violence against women.
Present at the workshop were the US embassy’s public affairs officer Kathleen Fox, faith communities, the police, the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), non-government organisations (NGOs), the social department, district administrators, related agencies and other ministries’ representatives.
Speaking at the launch of the workshop, the principal sectary for social affairs, Linda William Melanie, said in Seychelles GBV remains a major concern due to its high prevalence in the society.
“The fight against GBV must continue. Statistics for the past four years from probation services show that 78% of reported domestic violence cases were registered by women compared to 22% of cases reported by men. Furthermore, 90% of application made with the Family Tribunal for protection orders were lodged by women compared to only 10% made by men,” she noted.
With the observance of the Orange Day on the 25th day of each month, PS William Melanie also said over the years the social department along with its partners has embarked on numerous awareness campaigns to educate the population on GBV and as the process for the enactment of the Domestic Violence Act is in an advanced stage, the department is currently reviewing its domestic violence Strategy 2008-2012 and the National Action Plan for GBV 2010-2015 to align it with the national gender policy.
The workshop was led by Lee Giordano from the US Institute of Men Stopping Violence who shared some of his working experience at the institute in engaging men in stopping violence.
Delegates, who included men and women, engaged very actively in the lecturing, discussions and group work.
The workshop focused on the causes of GBV, identifying different tactics used by men (emotional, psychological and physical) for starting violence and solutions to preventing or stopping GBV against women through micro-community based faith communities, schools, civic groups, social services, neighbourhoods, other related agencies and even the police.
At the end of the workshop late in the evening, Ms Fox said she was very surprised with how well the programme was received especially with the large group of men from different walks of life expressing and sharing their feelings.
“For us, it has been a success. Just as we want to see an end to gender-based violence in the United States, we also want to see the same thing here in Seychelles,” she said.
A Seychelles Air Force representative Ron Morel said his involvement in the workshop has helped him to better understand the factors that play a key role in starting violence against women.
“It has given me a broader idea of the occurrence of domestic violence and how to detect it and help others,” he said.
P. J.