Minister Clifton De Coteau:
GENDER,
Youth and Child Development Minister Clifton De Coteau on Wednesday
presented some grim statistics during the second National Consultation
of the Domestic Violence Act 1999, at City Hall, San Fernando.
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education is
necessary’: Minister of Gender Youth and Child
Development
Clifton De Coteau, addresses participants during a
seminar on
Domestic Violence at the San Fernando City Hall
auditorium
on Wednesday. —Photo: TREVOR WATSON
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And last year, a victim of domestic violence murder was mostly likely to die by beating.
De Coteau said that too many women considered themselves to be financially dependent on men.
He said although the ministry was attempting to assist women by having specific programmes, their husbands did not want them attending the necessary classes.
De Coteau told the audience: “Statistics from the Crime and Problem Analysis Branch (CAPA), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service reported steady increases in the number of charges for sexual offenses with females as victims from the period 2009-2013. These acts of aggression ranged from grievous sexual assault, to rape, incest, and serious indecency, with well over 200 reported cases in 2012 alone. The report for the same period also states there were 93 reported cases in the south western region and 161 cases in the southern region.”
The minister said: “Further analysis of the data provided by CAPA on domestic violence related murders for the period 2010-2013 revealed that most of the deceased were beaten to death at the hands of a common law husband, spouse or ex-boyfriend.”
From 2012 to September 2013, De Coteau said the National Domestic Violence Hotline handled 881 client calls.
Speaking with reporters at the end of the session, De Coteau said education was necessary for the women who were victims of domestic abuse and men should not deprive their wives of opportunities to improve their skills and abilities.
“At the end of it, both benefit. It is a win-win situation from an economic point of view. It helps to stabilise the family as well because you have two providers now instead of one,” De Coteau said.
And although restraining orders did not guarantee protection for women, mediation was necessary, he said.
Gaietry Pargass, legal consultant with the ministry explained certain aspects of the Domestic Violence Act. She said persons could be abused physically, sexually, emotionally or psychologically and financially.
De Coteau also advised the elderly to be careful how they were distributing their finances because they may not be treated well afterwards. He also encouraged them to know more about technology and to learn from their children and grandchildren.
Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Over-200-reported-cases--of-sexual-violence-in-South-270415261.html
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