Fellow Citizens and Residents,

Each time I make an address on this very delicate and very real issue I think long and hard for innovative ways to convey this serious message. Violence against women is wrong. It is that simple. Somehow, this simple message, for those who commit acts of violence, is evidently difficult to comprehend as acts of violence are alarmingly on the increase globally.

The year 2006 marks the 16th anniversary of the 16 days of activism Against Violence Against Women Campaign. The 16 days campaign begins on November 25th each year and ends on December 10th, which is International Human Rights Day. It began in 1991 as an attempt to increase the visibility of violence against women as a human rights violation. The campaign hearkens back to 1960 when three sisters, Patricia, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal were violently assassinated in the Dominican Republic because of their political activism.

All over the world today, the campaign is being used to demand support services for survivors, enhance prevention efforts, press for legal and judicial reform and use international human rights instruments to address violence against women as a human rights violation, a public health crisis and a threat to human security and peace worldwide.

This year Antigua and Barbuda has seen the loss of the lives of too many young women at the hands of violence. Those who believe that all gender-based violence is domestic violence must think again. Look around and the facts will tell you differently.

There is a callousness that lives among us; a blatant disregard for life that is worse than any incurable disease. The cure to this epidemic called violence rests in our own hands. Not in the hands of the law. Not in the hands of the Church. Not in the hands of any activist group; because all of these have been preaching sermons of peace and tolerance, but violence is still on the increase.

In Latin America and the Caribbean acts of violence against women and young girls have intensified in the last decade. The World Health Organization report analyzed the extent of violence against 24,000 women in countries in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. The prevalence ranged from four percent in cities in Japan and Serbia to more than 30 percent in rural areas in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Peru.

The term gender based killing was introduced by Diana Russell and Jill Radford in their book: “Femicide: The Politics of Woman Killing” published in 1992. According to the concept, adumbrated by them, femicide refers to the killing of women because of their gender and it functions as a form of discrimination, power and control over women.

We read the headline across the hemisphere every day in each of our countries. Gender based killings are committed by

a) Persons known to the victim: such as husbands, boyfriends, family members, friends; or

b) Unknown persons: such as rapists, murderers, criminals, gangs.

These murders all have in common the fact that they are rooted in the unequal power relations between men and women, which place women in a position of greater vulnerability and thereby limit their ability to enjoy their rights to life, personal integrity, freedom and due process.

When the woman’s desperate circumstances are taken advantage of she is left little option. The choice of food and protection juxtaposed against hunger and exposure is not a difficult one to make. She becomes submissive and her dignity and pride run through the back window and submission enters through the front door.

But really, her protection is but an illusion and the food but poison. He shelters her from the outside world but who protects her from him? Too often she pays the ultimate price for this illusion and poison. Too many times she pays with her life.

So, this plague of gender based violence goes much deeper than the raising of a hand, the swipe of a knife or the pulling of the trigger. It is the mindset of a society that does not value womanhood. It is the belief and practice that leave women in second and third places with the silver and bronze around our necks; the ribbon cutting into our jugulars as we try to attain gold.

There are many international and regional instruments to eliminate violence against women all of which have served as the basis for the formulation of national and regional legislation and plans for addressing this scourge on our societies.

I draw your attention for instance to the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women or the Belem Do Para Convention of 1994, which 32 member states of the Organization of American States have ratified; and which recognizes that women have the right to a life free of violence in both public and private spheres, and condemns all forms of violence against women. In accordance with the Convention, countries are obliged to condemn this type of violence and adopt policies and programmes for its prevention, punishment and eradication.

I urge all governments in the region to honor this very important commitment, which is integral to the right to human dignity and to life for women across the hemisphere.

In 2002 the OAS approved a Follow-up Mechanism to the Convention of Belem do Para which involves two bodies, the Conference of State Parties and the Committee of Experts in monitoring the implementation of the Convention. At the national; level, the majority of Latin America and the Caribbean have passed legislation that address intra-family or domestic violence or violence against women.

The Beijing Platform for Action is another very specific international document, which identifies violence against women as an obstacle to the achievement of equality, development and peace and as an act that violates and hinders the enjoyment of women’s human rights and freedoms. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women also signed by over 70 member states creates mechanisms for individuals or groups to submit complaints to the Expert Committee of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against women. In addition it grants the committee authority to initiate investigations on systematic or serious violations of women’s human rights, in accordance with the Convention.

One of the major obstacles we have had in the past which the Inter-American Commission, which I have the distinct honour of leading; will address over the next two years, is the lack of empirical data- the where, when, how and why it happens. Global figures however suggest that 1 in 3 women experience some type of violence at some point during their lives.

The real question though is "What are you doing?" Do you look the other way when something occurs because it does not concern you? If so, then you are responsible for the violence. Do you tell the other person what they’re doing is wrong? If not, then you are responsible for the violence. If you have not raised your voice or lifted a finger in this effort to eradicate violence, then you are responsible.

The saying that -all it takes for evil to flourish is for good men and women to do nothing- is profound and apropos. There is no one in a violent or abusive situation who relishes being in it. It is for us to be our sisters’ keepers and our brothers’ keepers. Together we can see this scourge stop.

Men, we need to hear your voices in this fight to eradicate violence against your mothers, sisters, nieces, daughters, and friends. We need to hear you condemning the war that has been waged against the world’s womenfolk. We need to see you standing shoulder to shoulder with us when we take to the streets and march in this battle for human rights.

Be aware that when we march we march for ourselves and for those who cannot march for themselves. Be aware that when we speak we speak for ourselves and those who cannot speak for themselves. Know that when we rally for human rights we do it for our little girls and boys and generations to come so that this curse may not be theirs to exorcise.

Women, lobby your political parties for more female representation. For the sake of effecting real change for women make a move toward policy making. Unless there are more of us at the policy making table; then we march and speak in vain. The undressed truth is, if we don’t do it for ourselves no one else will.

All of our societies and countries pay socially, emotionally, and financially when there is violence. The United Nations reports that each year Violence against Women costs billions of dollars in lost productivity and medical care. As violence against women affects everyone, it is clear that eliminating it is also the responsibility of all.

As we commemorate 16 days of activism, let us all reflect on our own role in this struggle. Today I offer six suggestions of things we can all do to play our part:

1. Support and believe victims of violence against women. There is a belief that victims of gender based violence make up accusations against men they don’t like. While this might happen occasionally, the truth is that most reports of VAW are truthful. Most victims of VAW have little to gain by exposing their lives. Their status in society diminishes and they may face increased risk of violence. It takes great courage and strength for a woman to step forward and point her finger at her aggressor. Therefore when we are presented with a story of violence against women, personally or professionally, it is critical that we suspend our criticism and attend to the person’s practical and emotional needs. We can all make a difference by not- re-victimizing women with our denial and judgment.

2. Help raise awareness about the issue.

In the last 16 years, there have been great strides in making violence against women more visible to everyone. There have been successful national and regional campaigns. However awareness can be further raised if we all talk about the issue to our family members, friends, and colleagues. In our communities, let us launch education and publicity campaigns to promote a zero-tolerance policy on violence and discrimination against women.

3. Advocate for laws and policies that protect victims: Although there are many laws as outlined earlier in my presentation, many of these laws in Latin America and the Caribbean need to be updated and adhered to. As government we have a responsibility to our citizens to ensure they are protected. As private citizens, you have a responsibility to make governments accountable for adequately funding and policing the policies they have created to protect women against violence. Let us all ensure that our voices are heard so that the problem is taken seriously and receives more than mere lip service.

4. Reflect and act: change begins at home and men need to examine their own behaviors and experiences to learn if they are helping to end violence or helping to continue it. Many men who are not physically violent have used some form of violence- verbal, psychological or sexual- at some point in their lives. Men can begin by asking such questions as: How do I treat the people around me- children, partners, coworkers, and neighbours? Are there ways in which I am controlling or abusive? Do I stop other men who are abusive to women?

5. Take action as a bystander. If you are a bystander such as a family member, friend, classmate, teammate, co-worker, church brother or sister; you can prevent, interrupt or intervene in abusive beheviours. The goal is to create a peer culture in which gender based violence is socially unacceptable. Individuals who act in abusive ways would suffer loss of respect, friends and status along with legal and non-legal sanctions.

6. Serve as a mentor or role model. Role models set examples for those around them of positive behaviours and attitudes toward women and girls. Mentors and role models include our teachers, coaches, bosses, church and youth leaders all of whom can help to guide men and boys toward becoming non-violent.

As women our resolution should constantly be renewed that we will always belong to ourselves. That we will accept nothing less than respect. That we will not believe that we deserve it or that it was our fault. As women we must make no excuses for being women and we must not be afraid to shout when the silence needs to be broken.

As we observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, let us all commit to being proactive, to doing something, no matter how small or how insignificant you may think it is: Together we can, together we will: Stop the Violence!

Thank you.