Shadow Minister for Women?s Affairs Suzann Roberts-Holshouser has called on Government to increase funding for women?s centres.

The Shadow Minister for Women?s Affairs, who was speaking on the International Day of Elimination of Abuse Against Women, said that only $60,000 a year is allocated to shelters and other services for women, including the Physical Abuse Centre and Women?s Resource Centre.

?It is paramount that the current Government understand their responsibility to the women of Bermuda and the financial support must reflect the need which continues to grow,? Ms Roberts-Holshouser said.

?As we move towards the next Budget debate, the UBP would support any Government initiative that would better support the centres, and indeed I would encourage the Government to take on the responsibility to organise and fund community-based education and training campaigns to raise awareness about violence against women.?

Ms Roberts-Holshouser said she would also like to see the establishment of an office where there is collection of data on abuse in Bermuda. She also called for recommendations aimed at eliminating violence against women.