New initiative targets support for violence prevention in hotspot communities
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Winrock International with community-based partners Eve for Life and Rise Life Management will launch the new Supporting Victims of Violence Activity on April 10, 2024, at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
The SVOV Activity aims to address and mitigate interpersonal and collective violence through sustainable, trauma-informed and community-led solutions.
USAID has invested significantly in violence prevention and protection efforts in Jamaica, working closely with the Government of Jamaica and implementing partners.
Through SVOV, Winrock and partners will work together to leverage those investments by improving multi-stakeholder coordination and providing trauma-informed services and information to survivors, witnesses, and perpetrators, with emphasis on gender equality and social inclusion. The project’s design is informed by data and a commitment to respecting human rights and promoting non-violence.
According to the 2021 Reproductive Health Survey conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, over 33% of females in Jamaica have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, with 45.1% of ever-partnered females admitting to being perpetrators of abuse, underscoring the need for SVOV’s comprehensive approach to addressing and rehabilitating both victims and perpetrators. Similarly, findings from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022 indicated that 76% of Jamaican children under the age of 15 experienced some form of violent discipline in the last month, while 4% experienced more severe corporal punishment in the same period.
The SVOV activity will collaborate across communities to foster a shift in societal attitudes towards violence. “We are committed to working alongside 10 rural and urban Jamaican communities to heal trauma induced by violence and to build a culture that respects all individuals’ rights,” said Charlene Coore Desai, SVOV’s chief of party. “The launch event is just the beginning of a transformative journey towards a more peaceful and inclusive society,” she said.
The Honourable Delroy Chuck, Minister of Justice, will deliver remarks alongside representatives from USAID, Winrock International, and other partners. An engaging edutainment segment is planned, and attendees are encouraged to interact with service providers and other stakeholders in the survivor support ecosystem.
The event is intended to provide a platform for stakeholders, government officials, civil society organizations and others from diverse backgrounds to come together, share ideas, and reaffirm their collective commitment to building a safer and more inclusive Jamaica.
The launch will begin at 2:00 p.m.; members of the media are invited.
For additional information, please contact Gavane Ferguson, SVOV’s social inclusion and outreach specialist: gavane.ferguson@winrock.org or 876849-3870.
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