CAYMAN ISLANDS (GIS) – The Gender Affairs Unit (GAU) is currently partnering with other agencies to stage 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Launched on Monday (25 November 2019), (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls), the global campaign runs until December 10, (Human Rights Day). Along with the Family Resource Centre (FRC), the CI Crisis Centre (CICC), Colours Cayman, and the Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW); the GAU is on the campaign’s local organising committee. This year it is asking the public to stand united against blurring the lines around sexual consent, victim blaming, and excusing perpetrators.

2019’s Worldwide theme is “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape!”

To promote awareness and encourage debate about the largely taboo subject of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), the public is encouraged to:

·          Buy promotional items to benefit the CI Crisis Centre’s sexual abuse programmes –   Wednesday, 27 November; Government Administration Building, 11.30 a.m. – 1.30 p.m.  

·         Participate in # Orange the World Dress for a Cause Day – Friday, 29 November (Group Photo at Government Administration Building front steps, 9.15 a.m.) – Wear orange to show solidarity with survivors in eliminating all forms of violence. Orange symbolises a brighter future, free of violence.

·         Attend the Panel Discussion on Rape Culture – Monday, 2 December, Constitution Hall, 6 p.m.

·         Learn more about the campaign and 16 ways to reduce rape culture, follow #OrangeTheWorld ,  #GenerationEquality, #LearnToLove  and visit https://bit.ly/34c9o9J

“Exact numbers of rape and sexual assaults are notoriously difficult to confirm due to impunity for perpetrators, stigma towards survivors, and their subsequent silence. So, this worldwide observance is used as an organising strategy to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls,” said GAU’s Senior Policy Analyst (Gender, Diversity and Equality), Karlene Bramwell.

“Our aim therefore is to open the conversation, educate the public with regards to prevention, action and response and to advocate for victims and survivors”, she concluded.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service figures for the various types of sexual crimes since 2015 are as follows: 

NOTE: Gender-based violence is deeply rooted in gender inequality, and is one of the most common human rights violations in all societies. It is perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. It can be physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual in nature, and can take the form of a denial of resources or access to services, resulting in economic harm. SGBV harms women, girls, men and boys; while disproportionately affecting the former.

Rape, as a specific physical form of violence against women and girls, is rooted in a complex set of patriarchal beliefs, around power and control that continue to create a social environment in which sexual violence is normalised. Such “culture” is perpetuated by misogynistic language, objectification of bodies, and by the glamourisation of violence. Behaviours associated with rape include victim-blaming, sexual objectification, trivialising rape, denial of widespread rape, or refusing to acknowledge the harm of sexual harassment or assault.