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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bahamas Information Services Updates
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas Crisis Centre held an outreach weekend with its annual ‘Night of Hope and Healing’ and monthly community walkabout – all in a effort to further sensitize the public about the effects domestic violence has on the country. The Crisis Centre held its ‘Night of Hope and Healing’ at Hillside House Studio and Gallery on Friday, September 26, 2014, in recognition of The National Day to End Sexual Violence. In an intimate setting of song, poetry, music and visual arts, victims of abuse told their stories and how they survived their particular domestic violence situation. Volunteers also read stories of survivors – locally and internationally. September 29 is recognized as “The Day to End Sexual Violence in The Caribbean”. This initiative was one of the outcomes of a regional conference in 2007, hosted by the Bahamas Crisis Centre under the theme: “Together We Can Stop Sexual Violence”. The Bahamas is the only country which started, and continues the recognition of this day and hence, The Night of Hope and Healing was established here. A Night of Hope and Healing is an evening to share poetry, songs, stories, visual art (print), and music as an expression of solidarity with the ongoing campaign. The presentations are followed by an open discussion between the artists and the audience. And on Saturday, September 27, the Crisis Centre held its monthly walkabout in Fort Charlotte community, teaming up with the Fort Charlotte Urban Renewal Centre. With the message of “Peace in the Home, Peace in the Community”, volunteers canvassed the area with the purpose of highlighting the issues that affect families and children, circulate brochures and Crisis Centre giveaways and sharing more information about the Crisis Centre and the services the organization offers. The community walkabouts started in October 2013.
The Bahamas Crisis Centre is a non-profit, independent organization primarily pledged to respond to the needs of all victims of sexual, physical and psychological abuse. The Centre also advocates for legislative and societal protection of survivors and raises public consciousness through education and information. Some of the objectives are to promote the safety and healing of survivors of gender-based violence and child abuse and to raise the consciousness of all communities throughout The Bahamas to the devastating effects of violence on the quality of life. The Crisis Centre also advocates for legislative change to protect victims of violence and challenge relevant agencies to foster appropriate and sensitive response to these issues, and to initiate and or participate in the collection of data on the prevalence and trends of gender-based violence and child abuse and to inform policy and new programmes. Formerly known as The Women’s Crisis Centre, the Crisis Centre is a registered non-profit organization that was opened in 1982.
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