Greetings,

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To: The Caribbean government leaders

In solidarity with the women of the Caribbean against violence and abuse.

The figures continue to alarm us. Enough is enough!

The situation regarding violence and abuse against women in the Caribbean is serious. In 1998, some 100 women were murdered in Jamaica and most of these deaths occurred 'as a result of domestic violence'. In that same year 109 rapes were reported and almost 4,000 cases of assault against women.

In Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, where the Parliament recently passed amended legislation dealing with domestic violence, incidents against women and children, including murder are also on the rise.

According to survey in Guyana, one in five women had experienced physical abuse; the majority of women in this same survey, or more than 65 per cent, had no knowledge of the Domestic Violence Act.

Across the Caribbean region, it is clear that not enough is being done to educate women on their right to be free from violence, or of the law/s that exist/s to protect them.

It is also clear that not enough resources are being allocated to providing protection, for example, in the form of a shelter/refuge for those escaping violent circumstances.

It is also clear that not enough resources are being allocated to redress the gender imbalance in all spheres - leaving women economically dependent on men. It is still prevalent that women are so devalued that they are led to believe that violence is an integral part of an intimate relationship.

Therefore, we call on the Caribbean governments to:

• Increase public education so that women are fully aware of their rights under law
• Increase public education so that everyone understands that women are not the property of men and have a right to be free from violence; and so eradicate the idea that violence is an integral part of an intimate relationship
• Eradicate the idea that violence is an integral part of an intimate relationship
• Increase and improve training of police
• Increase support for all existing anti-violence agencies, campaigns and organisations

Sincerely,