Grand Cayman, 25 November 2021 –The Cayman Islands joins the rest of the world today in observing International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which in turn kicks off 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

This year local activities have been scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the Family Resource Centre (FRC) has already begun a programme of events.

T-shirts designed by persons affected by domestic violence and their supporters went on display at the Women’s Health Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital and at the Central Post Office in George Town, as part of the annual Clothesline Project. 

Two workshops are also planned. A new round of the Domestic Violence Intervention Training Programme (DVITP) will take place via Zoom over two-and-a-half days from 1-3 December. DVITP aims to help frontline professionals and the general public learn how they can assist persons experiencing violence.

 Then on 8 December FRC will host a workshop examining intimate partner violence, entitled ‘Love Shouldn’t Hurt.’ The topic will be parenting through abuse.  

More information about the workshops and how to register for them is available from [email protected] and the Family Resource Centre Facebook page.

Government resources for persons experiencing gender-based violence may be accessed through agencies such as FRC, its parent Department of Counselling Services, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) unit.

Officials note that other areas of the public sector for which gender-based violence is a concern include: health care responses, the prison and judicial system, probation, and education.   

Persons who wish to file a claim under the Gender Equality Law in relation to sexual harassment in the workplace should contact the Gender Affairs Unit in the Cabinet Office at email: [email protected].