Dear Editor,
There is need for mechanisms to enable victims of abuse to break the silence by sharing their experiences and publicly calling out abusers, as well as seeking help. A hotline would be one such mechanism; or perhaps the Suicide Helpline can be expanded to include abuse. Gatekeepers/lay counsellors would be another mechanism. As well, the Government should foster the creation of an app that would enable sharing and reporting of such abuse.
Also, the authorisation of the call to action must be addressed. On the one hand, almost all who suggest what should be done expect some hazy other to take action, as they remain dismissive of the call for abuse prevention to be everyone’s business, and the need for each one of us to tackle the issue in our homes, communities and workplaces; as those are really where the walls of silence need to be broken down, and misplaced concepts such as family honour and status need to be shunted aside.
On the other hand, the deafening silence fosters abuse, sometimes with fatal consequences; often because victims and others know not what to do, and how to do it. This need to know is critical, since abuse prevention starts with you, and you, and you; and workshops such as the ones offered by The Caribbean Voice can meet this need.
Finally, some years ago, TCV launched an online petition calling for a registry of sex offenders to be raised. Now we are rooting for the plan of Director of the Childcare & Protection Agency, Ann Green, to be realised in having such a registry of sexual predators of children, and we hope that plans for a similar registry for sexual predators of adults will also come into being in 2018.
As well, we appeal to readers to please sign our petition calling for such a registry, and urge others to do so by clicking on the ‘Petitions’ link on the left hand bar of the index page on our website – www.caribvoice.org – and then click on the ‘Registry of Sex Offenders’ link, so that we can boost the registry’s chances.
Sincerely
The Caribbean Voice
