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  • 1 year ago

In observance of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence,the National Union of Government and Federated Workers hosted a solidarity event organized by its women's executive committee.

Faith Cheruiyot reports
Transcript
00:00The event, themed Time to Act Now, aimed to promote and continue to raise awareness while
00:06also providing information to help those experiencing gender-based violence.
00:11In her remarks, former Secretary General of the Union Jillian Joy Bartlett echoed this
00:16message, highlighting violence in the workplace.
00:19But violence in the workplace is not a micro-issue, it's a macro-issue.
00:26It affects the ability of workers to perform on work.
00:29It affects the ability of governments to funnel funds away from hospital care and away from
00:40children who are abandoned, away from abused women, battered homes and all that.
00:49It's an issue that trade unions have to continue to be involved in.
00:55The WEC Education Secretary Hyacinthe Linder spoke on the importance of involving children
01:01in issues such as these.
01:02We always encourage having children in our midst because this is where they learn.
01:07They learn to stand for their rights.
01:09They learn to speak out.
01:11And they learn that they can make a difference in the future.
01:14They are our future.
01:15We are thankful that they are here with us today.
01:17And to honour and represent the theme of the event, Time to Act Now, a spoken word piece
01:23was performed.
01:24It's hard to be a girl in this place.
01:27Unwelcome dreams, but I'm holding my space.
01:32The road might be rough.
01:34They will try to block me.
01:36But tomorrow, yes, tomorrow belongs to me.
01:42Nine years old, I've seen my crime.
01:46Uninvited hands, tears in my eyes.
01:49They tell me, push now, don't make a scene.
01:53But I feel the weight of what it means.
01:56Metal chains they try to bind, but are not big enough to free my mind.
02:01Crystal Hunt shared the avenues available for anyone experiencing gender-based violence
02:07and for those that may know of victims.
02:10In Trinidad and Tobago, violence is illegal.
02:15Domestic violence.
02:17And the main statute that addresses this is the Domestic Violence Act.
02:24This allows persons to apply for a protection order under circumstances of abuse.
02:32Trinidad and Tobago has also provided shelters referred to as a safe house,
02:39which is a haven to protect all persons who have been exposed to domestic violence.
02:46There is also domestic violence drop-in centers and a hotline, 800-SAVE.
02:54That persons have access to 24 hours.
02:59The annual activism campaign, which began on the 25th of November, ends tomorrow, 10th of December,
03:05marking the 16 days for no violence against women and children across the world.
03:11Faith Chariot, TV6 News.
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