Republic Bank Lends a Hand To Upgrade The Shelter

Violence against women is a global problem that has been ongoing far too long causing physical and mental harm to millions of women. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 736 million are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner. The United Nations defines violence against women as, “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

According to Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, in 2019, there were two hundred and thirty-two (232) cases of domestic violence reported, while in 2020, there were five hundred and fifty-six (556) cases reported. The statistics reveal that this number continued to increase to 826 for the comparative period January to March 2021.

Through our Power to Make a Difference (PMAD) programme, we are committed to making a difference in the communities in which we reside. It was therefore gratifying to lend support to the renovation of The Shelter. The Shelter is a safe haven for women and children who are victims of all forms of domestic violence and human trafficking. They are committed to providing services such as: a safe house, material assistance, mandatory counselling, crisis intervention, individual advocacy and continued support through counselling after resettlement.

We believe that by lending a hand to The Shelter, and other similar facilities, it will help contribute to the safety and security to hundreds of women and children at all levels of society, and help survivors overcome their trauma, empower themselves, and become reintegrated back into society.

While supporting our women is indeed a step in the right direction, preventing violence is the goal. In 2019, a framework for preventing violence against women was developed – RESPECT - where each letter of RESPECT stands for one of the seven strategies. Therefore, the promise of not leaving anyone behind cannot truly be fulfilled, without ending violence against women and children.