00:00Across the world every 10 minutes partners and family members killed a
00:05woman or a girl intentionally in 2023. The globe unites in these 16 days of
00:13activism against gender-based violence.
00:16Today we gather at a critical juncture, a juncture where our collective voice must resonate loudly against the
00:24high incidence of violence faced by women and girls. Violence in all its
00:29forms, physical, emotional and sexual, remains a grave reality for far too many
00:36in our communities. It no longer manifests itself behind closed doors.
00:43What we are seeing today is that it is happening on the streets and sometimes
00:48even in the very institution and places where we should feel safe.
00:54In the Caribbean 40% of women at some point in their lifetime experience violence from their partners.
01:01Data is suggesting that this is a youthful phenomena with the vast majority of victims ranging between the ages of 15 to 34.
01:10We must understand what the data is saying to us as Trinbigonians.
01:17This is unacceptable, this is intolerable and this must change.
01:23Women and girls can only live free from fear he says if men join the cause.
01:29Us men have a critical role to play to end gender-based violence and to amplify the voices of women and those
01:39organizations that are already in the field trying to do this enormous task.
01:46The gender and child affairs unit of the office of the Prime Minister has chosen to kick off these 16 days with a national youth rally.
01:54It is time for you to take a stand and raise awareness about the impact of domestic violence and all forms of gender-based violence
02:02on your peers and your communities. Young people, you are a formidable force.
02:10Mr Rampersad says engaging the youth will be the catalyst for change.
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