Bahamas Information Services Updates
National Task Force on Gender-Based Violence Showcases Strategic Plan
By Bahamas Information Services
Oct 9, 2015 - 5:45:00 AM

Pictured are Members of the National Task Force on Gender-Based Violence at their meeting on Monday. Seated (l-r): Kendal Nottage; Dr. Robin Roberts; Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson; Alan Strachan; Retired Justice Rubie Nottage; and Iris Adderley. Standing (l-r): Pastor Gil Maycock; Dr. Barbara Rodgers-Newbold; Leila Greene; Carmen Dawkins; Lisa Fox; Knijah Knowles; Minister Sharmaine Adderley; Dr. Novia Carter; Audrey Ingraham-Roberts; Juliette Barnwell; Christine Campbell; Lester Ferguson, and Blanche Deveaux. (BIS Photo/Kemuel Stubbs)

The National Task Force on Gender-Based Violence held a meeting on Monday, October 5, for members of the Task Force and stakeholders to showcase the National Strategic Plan that was developed to address gender-based violence. The meeting was held at the Ministry of social Services and Community Development, through the Bureau of Women’s Affairs.

The Strategic Plan clearly defined gender-based violence and the scope and depth of the problem. It provided the rationale and approach for the development of a national strategy to address gender-based violence, set out the structure for a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Authority and listed the ten programmes to be addressed in the first year of the establishment of the GBV Authority.

In July 2012, the Government agreed that The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, through the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Social Services, should participate in the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Strengthening State Accountability and Community Action for Ending Violence against Women Project, which has been implemented in some ten countries in the Caribbean. Its aim is to end gender-based violence through strengthened and responsive state and civil action.

In July 2013, The Government of The Bahamas launched a National Task Force to oversee the development, implementation and coordination of a national strategic plan to address gender based-violence.

The National Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence in The Bahamas, represents a blending of the two initiatives and is a testament to the commitment, dedication and volunteerism of a small group of persons who make up the National Task Force on Gender Based Violence in The Bahamas: They are guided by Chairperson, Justice Rubie Nottage (Retired); and Deputy Chairpersons, Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson, Consultant in the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development and Director of The Bahamas Crisis Centre, and Dr. Robin Roberts, Director and Senior Lecturer, University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Clinical Medicine and Research (Bahamas) and Consultant Urologist in the Ministry of Health.

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