Dear Editor,
“It is up to all of us to make sure that we are doing everything we can to make clear to our society and to the public the horrific nature of domestic abuse, the impact it has on people’s lives and the need for us as a society to say: ‘Stop it.’” – Theresa May, MP, British Parliament
I pen this letter to the editor with a desire to touch the heart, awaken the conscience and expose the abuse being perpetuated against the women and girls of this nation. Most recent in the news would be the police officer choking a young lady, as seen on a recording on social media; another young woman sexually assaulted in the prison; and a little girl of four years old molested by her mother’s boyfriend.
Note from the editor: Police have not confirmed whether the case being referred to was sexual assault, nor have they confirmed the identity of any suspects.
Violence of any form against our women and girls is not acceptable, it is not excusable and it will never be tolerable. This violence must stop!
Domestic violence is any form of violent behavior set to gain power and maintain control over spouse, partner, girlfriend/boyfriend or intimate partner. For this article, we are speaking about women and girls. The abuser uses fear, guilt, shame and any tactic to intimidate and wear victims down. This can happen at all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds and economic levels.
It is said during this global pandemic that domestic violence is a “shadow pandemic” as it has increased during the lockdown months of this global pandemic, not just in The Bahamas but around the world: Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Spain, the United States & the United Kingdom, to name a few. I note how shelters and hotlines globally all recorded alarming numbers of domestic violence cases during this pandemic. With the strain of unemployment, layoffs, tension in the homes, isolation, disagreements and poverty, we see the escalation of cases worldwide.
In regards to the female sexually assaulted whilst in our prison, what kind of slackness is this? This should never happen. This represents grave negligence on behalf of that police station. Those officers should have been (if not already done) justly reprimanded and the rules enforced so as not to have a repeat of this atrocity. Of course, this does not in any way dismiss the probability of disease transmission, trauma for the victim, deep anguish or emotional instability that could be as a result of this sexual assault. Violence of any form against our women and girls is not acceptable, it is not excusable and it will never be tolerable. This darkness must stop.
I am a mother of three beautiful girls and my heart quivers at the thought of such brutality done to the innocence, dignity and frailty of such a young girl. This darkness must be demolished. No young girl should have to face such predatory behavior from caregivers. The worst thing about this is children brought up in these types of homes learn to keep family secrets and how to be manipulative. These children have a strong sense of isolation and helplessness. They learn that people who love you, hurt you. This environment is a disruption to normal development. It results in emotional, behavioral, physical, social and cognitive problems in life. These children suffer from anxiety and can become hostile, and in this very situation, a little girl of just four years old lost her life. This darkness must stop. Violence of any form against our women and girls is not acceptable, it is not excusable and it will never be tolerable.
Domestic violence causes far more pain and trauma than the bruises, wounds or scars left. Some have to fight the grip of low self-esteem, unworthiness, insecurity and mental anguish for the rest of their life.
This “shadow pandemic” must be dealt with urgently. We must find ways to eliminate violence against women and girls. The response to this type of action should mirror the response for COVID 19, operating the same type of urgency with funding to support it. I therefore recommend a few pointers:
- Introduction of a domestic violence commissioner, who would encourage good practice, prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution involving domestic violence. The DV commissioner would liaise with the Domestic Violence Unit of the police force, along with social workers, and also publish information and have public campaigns, education and training concerning domestic violence.
- Introduction of a Sex Offenders registry.
- Domestic violence police/car.
- Economic grants/funding for low-income women.
- Scholarships for females to qualify themselves with a better education.
- Increase social workers’ wages.
- Job placement program initiative for women.
- More hotlines.
- Engage more of the civic organizations that cater to women.
- Counseling services.
- Shelters for domestic abuse victims.
- Partner with churches on empowerment/feeding/housing.
“Abuse is never contained to a present moment; it lingers across a person’s lifetime and has pervasive long-term ramifications.” — Lorraine Nilon
Jasmin Turner-Dareus,
Wife and mother; former Bahamas government senator; businesswoman; and founder of “Daughter Arise”, a non-profit organization geared towards empowerment, education and advancing women and girls who are domestic violence victims. Contact jasmindareusministry@gmail.com or 242-646-1892
Social Services Child Abuse Hotline: 322-2763
National Hotline: 242-422-2763/422-2763
Grand Bahama Hotline: 242-351-7763
Grand Bahama Resilience Center: 242-602-5118
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