The prey and the predator
- Women and violence
published: Sunday January 8, 2006
Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
WHILE CASES of rape and carnal abuse
dropped in 2005, the number of women
murdered increased, preliminary figures
from the Constabulary Communication
Network (CCN) show.
Some 187 women were murdered in 2005,
compared to a total of 141 killed in 2004, an
increase of 32.6 per cent. Carnal abuse,
however, is down to 333 reported cases,
compared to 409 in 2004 and reported cases
of rape 735, down from 916.
But while there is a reduction in the number
of sexual crimes reported, it is clear that a
trend of violence against women is growing.
Women killed in domestic violence-related
incidents in Jamaica accounted for 21.3 per
cent of total murders committed in the island.
REPRISAL KILLING
Apart from domestic violence, women and
girls were often the victims of reprisal killing.
Such attacks accounted for nearly 30 per cent
of murders in 2004. These statistics are
believed to have grown significantly last year.
SEXUAL PREDATORS
Sexual predators preying on women and
girls were also responsible for some of 2005's
most gruesome murders of women.
LINK:
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060108/index.html
WOMEN CALL FOR
CHANGES:
IMPROVED JUDICIAL services, more effective
policing strategies, less corruption and better
social support programmes are among the
major issues Jamaica needs to address in
order to tackle violence and crime effectively,
women leaders contend.
Violence against women accounts for a large
number of cases, especially at the resident
magistrate's level.
Cases of incest, carnal abuse, domestic
violence and other assaults are prominent
during the hearings.
Politicians must play
their part
The weeding out of corrupt politicians is also
high on the women's to-do list. President of the
Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ),
Beverly Lopez, wants Parliament to set stiff
sanctions against politicians who do not abide
by the political code of conduct as outlined in
the PSOJ's Declaration of Emancipation Park
in May last year.
Among other things, the document states that
politicians should not knowingly associate
with criminals.
The Church has a role
Mrs. Coke-Lloyd believes the Church can also
play a more active role in the fight against
violence and crime as well as curbing political
corruption.
"Our churches have been very instrumental in
stopping flexi time and casinos.
It's a powerful institution.
So it means it has the power to engage and to
influence in many different spheres," she says.
The island's churches boast female-dominated
congregations. Women at all levels are exposed
to domestic violence and sexual harassment.
The police have a role
Executive director of the human rights group
Jamaicans For Justice, Dr. Carolyn Gomes,
says policing methods in Jamaica are
ineffective and have been for nearly 40 years
and are responsible for Jamaica's increasing
murder rate.
Nearly 1,700 persons were murdered in
Jamaica last year.
Government and private
sector have a role
Instituting more and better social programmes
are apt ways women leaders believe the
Government can deal with violence and crime
in 2006.
They feel by instituting social programmes,
opportunities for hope for young people can
be created.
Young people make up the bulk of Jamaica's
crime offenders.
LINK:
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060108/lead/lead5.html
IS 2006 THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN?
DO WE NEED TO SHOW MEN HOW TO
RUN THE WORLD?
THEY'VE DONE A POOR JOB SO FAR!
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