In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) will hosta series of youth dialogues and seminars to familiarize community leaders and youth with strategies to prevent gender-based and teen dating violence.
This initiative is part of the Resistance and Prevention Program (RAPP),which aims to reduce youth crime and violence by building mutual trust between the police, the government, and Bahamian youth. RAPP is funded by theU.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented by PADF.
The series will be launched in Nassau on
November 24, 2015, with an opening ceremony and youth dialogue. Events will take place between
November 30 and December 4, 2015 and will include youth dialogues and four-day courses that build police and other practitioners’ skills on violence
prevention and promoting change through community action plans. Events
will be held across four islands— Exuma, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and
New Providence
.
“Our aim is to foster a real discussion with young people by giving them valuable information on domestic violence,”
said Nekisha Rolle, PADF’s program coordinator in The Bahamas. “We’re
pointing them to where they can go for help through local resources.
More importantly, we want to encourage youth to actively be a part of
the solution, to be a voice of change.”
RAPP
is supported by the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a U.S.
security strategy focused on citizen safety throughout the hemisphere.
Local partners include theU.S. Embassy in Nassau, the Crisis Center Bahamas, the Ministry
of Social Services and Community Development, The Royal Bahamas Police
Force, The Royal Bahamas Defense Force, The Bahamas Bar Association, the
Ministry of Legal Affairs, The Ministry of Education’s Guidance
Department, civil society organizations, the business sector, and youth
groups.
“The seminars offer an opportunity to renew the global commitment to free women and girls from violence,” said Kristin Gilmore, director of the U.S. Embassy Nassau’s INL Section.
“Whether it occurs in our own neighborhood or on distant shores, violence against women and girls damages us all—men and women alike.”
The youth dialogues and seminars are free and open to the public.
To register for the
youth dialogues, visit:https://goo.gl/1OTRka
Grand Bahama
Monday, November 30th, 2015
The Police Training College
Exuma
Friday, December 4th, 2015
Exuma Resource Center
Eleuthera
Friday, December 4th, 2015
Formerly Workers House, Police Headquarters Governor’s Harbour
To register for the
seminars, visit:https://goo.gl/UPfTxu
New Providence
Monday, November 30th- Friday, December 4th, 2015
The American Corner, The College of The Bahamas
Grand Bahama
Tuesday, December 1st- Friday, December 4th, 2015
The Police Training College
Exuma
Monday, November 30th- Thursday, December 3rd, 2015
Exuma Resource Center
Eleuthera
Monday, November 30th- Thursday, December 3rd, 2015
Cancer Society Hall, Palmetto Point
