against women by boyfriends and husbands.

And men have been found guilty of washing their hands of attempts to cut crimes against women.

The outburst came this week from Mr. David Boyd, one of the four male members of Bermuda's Women's Resource Centre.

Mr. Boyd, also Sonesta Beach managing director, said many men here were physically and sexually abusive towards women and children.

Statistics in America show one in every four girls is a victim of sexual assault by the age of 18.

And one in every seven women will be battered by her boyfriend or husband.

Local experts believe the figures equally apply to Bermuda, claimed Mr. Boyd.

"These statistics helped me to realise that my family and those of other families close to me are at risk,'' Mr. Boyd told Hamilton Rotary Club.

"They made me want to do something about crimes of violence against women.

"I want to do all I can to ensure that my wife and my daughters are not irreparably changed by violence.

"I've come to realise that many men in Bermuda don't view reducing crimes against women as their responsibility.

"Hence the majority of advocates for change have been women. Given the fact that we agree that we are at risk of being affected by violence, shouldn't we all be working to diminish violent crimes against women?'' Mr. Boyd added: "We, as men, have to face the fact that it is our gender that is committing the overwhelming majority of assaults against women.

"And to the extent that we support the status quo which lets men get away with such violence we are responsible for perpetuating these crimes.'' Mr. Boyd said the answer was to start paying "attention to inequities in our criminal justice system''.

The courts were soft on boyfriends hitting girls, while tough on men involved in fights among themselves.

"Why is it that if I pick up my luncheon plate and smash it over Mr.

William's head that I will undoubtedly end up in court and probably be fined at the very least and find myself in Casemates.

"Yet a woman who went to the Police last week to make a complaint about her boyfriend who split her lip and punched her in the stomach was told that her injuries were not serious enough for the Police to get involved.

"We can stop using euphemisms like `domestic incidents' to describe serious assaults against women.

"We can see that our judiciary become aware of the patterns of violence against women so that our magistrates will begin to consistently apply sanctions against those who commit these crimes.

"At present it seems that the courts are often very lenient towards offenders if the person receiving the beating is a `loved one' and very strict if the person assaults a stranger.

"We must do what we can to encourage the Police and the Attorney General's chambers to support the victims of rape and other sexual assaults to press charges against offenders.

"Statistics show that only 1 in 20 rape cases go to court.'' Mr. Boyd said Government should fund an effective rehabilitation scheme for imprisoned sex offenders.

PROTECT OUR WOMEN -- Mr. David Boyd makes his point to Hamilton Rotarians.