Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Counsellor at the Woman Crisis Centre, Althea Beckford (centre), is in stitches with, (from left), president of Woman Inc., Carole Sewell; representative of the United Nations Children's Fund Bertrand Bainvel; and Minister fof Development, Paul Robertson. Occasion was the International Day Against Violence against Women activities at Emancipation Park on Friday, November 25, that was organised by the Bureau of Women's Affairs. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
ON NOVEMBER 25, 1960, the Mirabel sisters were ambushed, tortured, raped and then pushed over a cliff. They were accused of attempting to overthrow Dominican Republic's Trujillo-led government.
Since 1981, this date has been recognised globally as International Day Against Violence Against Women. The Bureau of Women's Affairs this year held a day of activities at Emancipation Park under the theme, 'Educating Minds to Eliminate Gender-based Violence'.
IMPRESSIONABLE MINDS
Scores of young impressionable minds from high schools across the island were present. The focus was on an issue of mammoth importance and was interspersed with presentations and performances from popular entertainers.
The appropriateness of the theme was highlighted by acting executive director of Bureau of Women's Affairs, Faith Webster. In her welcome address, she noted, "Our young women and children must be protected, and not violated, if we are to develop wholesome minds and a wholesome society."
Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund, Bertrand Bainvel, noted that too often women and children were the invisible faces of violence.
BREAKING THE SILENCE
Entertainer Tanya Stephens, in her presentation titled 'Promoting a Culture That Says No Violence Against Women,' told students that they were the only ones who could break the cycle. She noted that as adults we have been teaching the youth (by example) a lot of wrongs. "Step away from some of the things that we are teaching you. Don't take in every single lesson," she said. The deejay said she was sometimes disgusted with some of the messages that adults portrayed. "Sometimes we (adults) are hypocritical, as we tell you to do things that we never did and that we are not doing."
This comment did not sit well with some of the adults present but in the true spirit of the day it was resolved amicably.
Attorney-at-law and 2005 Festival Queen, Sashane McDonald, had a very spirited discussion on 'Educating Minds to Eliminate Gender-based Violence'. Her discussion centred around sexual offences. She urged young ladies to report all forms of sexual abuse regardless of who the perpetrator was as that's the only way we are going to curb the problem.
There were also presentations from former Ms. Jamaica World Tonoya Toyloy, Tami Chynn, TOK and To-Isis.
