Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness - FILE PHOTO
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Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, UWI Guild President Perry Cummings Jr., and Opposition Leader Mark Golding
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has directed the relevant ministers in his administration to expedite legislative amendments to bolster Jamaica's framework for addressing violence against women and girls.
The Prime Minister issued the directive during yesterday's cabinet meeting after receiving a report from National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang on recent cases of violence against women and girls.
The latest incidents to spark national outrage include the rape and murder of nine year-old Kelsey Ferrigon, the discovery of remains believed to be those of missing Utech student Anisa Dilworth and the assault of a nurse by a St Andrew businessman.
The Prime Minister said legislative change is one element of the wider strategy to address violence through prevention, protection, and prosecution.
He said the government has also been working on a comprehensive approach to tackle violence generally in the society, "and we now have the report of the National Commission on the Prevention of Violence, which was chaired by Professor Maureen Samms Vaughn. This report will be reviewed by the Cabinet next and thereafter shared with stakeholders and the wider public."
He has urged all citizens to play active roles in ending violence by supporting survivors, reporting abuse, and promoting a culture of respect and accountability.
The most recent cases of violence against women and children to hit the national headlines sparked several organized protests at various locations on Monday, some of them led by nurses and student groups.
Mobile app
Perry Cummings Jr., outgoing President of the University of the West Indies, Mona Guild, is among those calling for actions similar to what the Prime Minister has now announced.
He's also recommending the development of a mobile safety app for women, "to send real-time alerts to their GPS location and voice recordings to authorities or trusted contacts."
While noting that he doesn't think enough is being done to address the issue, Mr Cummings is calling for a concerted effort to identify the root of the problem.
Golding
Opposition Leader Mark Golding, in his latest commend on the issue, highlighted the need for more shelters across the country for victims of gender-based violence, "where victims of domestic violence/domestic violence can find some safety and security and support, because we have to change the culture of how we deal with these matters."
Mr Golding, speaking at a meeting of his People's National Party in Clarendon on the weekend, decried the rising levels of abuse of women and children, and promised that a PNP led administration will do more to assist victims of domestic and gender-based violence.
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