Data emerging from the National Domestic Violence Registry shows that assault by beating, verbal abuse, malicious damage and breach of protection orders are by far the most common offences associated with domestic violence.
Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Donna Cox, revealed this while speaking at the “Report to the Nation on Gender-Based Violence in the Time of Covid”, which was held virtually on Wednesday.
The event was hosted by the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
Minister Cox said assault by beating has increased; from 450 reported cases in 2019 to 865 in 2020 and was already close to 865 in March 2021.
Minister Cox said it must be noted these are only reported cases.
Minister Cox said this is the Shadow Pandemic growing amidst the COVID-19 crisis and there is certainly the need for a global collective effort to bring it to an end.
Minister Cox told the virtual audience that the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services continues to give priority to establishing and strengthening programmes and services to address family conflicts.
Minister Cox said the Ministry through its National Family Services Division will be launching its suicide prevention and crisis hotline, manned by fully trained personnel.
Delivering on the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago, President of the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, indicated the Association witnessed first-hand the gender inequity posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
She further noted that though the Covid-19 pandemic emerged as a debilitating public health, social, and economic burden in mankind’s history, the FPATT, in existence for over sixty-five years, rose to the challenge and revaluated and reimagined its focus to suit pressing needs.
Along with advocacy and outreach efforts, Professor Antoine stated the FPATT bridged critical gaps between demand and access to vital sexual and reproductive health services including cervical breast and prostate cancer screening, HIV services, sexually transmitted infections screens and treatment, general practitioner and specialist consultations and diagnostic services.
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