The Opposition is calling on Government to bail out a cash-strapped charity that provides a shelter for the victims of domestic abuse.

And the Progressive Labour Party also wants to set up a Gender Affairs Office to ensure that public funds were made available to tackle the issue.

Shadow Health Minister Kim Wilson spoke out after the Centre Against Abuse charity had already been forced to shut its shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence — and that the charity itself could fold unless more funds became available.

Describing domestic violence as “a healthcare problem of epidemic proportions”, Ms Wilson said: “It saddens us that more resources can not be found to assist the Centre Against Abuse as the only safe house/shelter in Bermuda for victims of domestic violence.

“The Government and or the Minister of Health should take steps to provide the Centre Against Abuse with sufficient resources to permit them to continue operating and offering a well needed service in our community.

“There already exists a population of homelessness in Bermuda. It should be noted that there does exists a strong correlation between domestic violence and homelessness in other jurisdictions. Oftentimes the only refuge for an abuse victim is a shelter once the decision is made to flee the home environment and the abuser.

“We cannot have, in such a sophisticated jurisdiction as Bermuda, a situation where the absence of a safe house forces the victim to remain in the abusive home environment or face homelessness.”

Ms Wilson added that a Gender Affairs Office was needed to provide support and services for domestic violence victims.

“It would be policy and legislative focused and provide funding and support to non profit organisations,” she said.

“This can be accomplished by establishing partnerships with charitable agencies such as the Centre for Abuse. The Gender Affairs office would also assist Bermuda in meeting its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

“The closure of The Centre Against Abuse presents an opportunity for reform and a renewed commitment by our society to the principle that our most vulnerable must be protected.”