Events to raise awareness of domestic abuse
A women’s charity will raise awareness of domestic abuse throughout October.
The Women’s Resource Centre said it will also highlight non-physical forms of abuse faced by women, such as verbal, emotional, financial, sexual, mental and digital.
Its campaign comes during Domestic Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
The WRC added that it responded to 44 domestic abuse-related incidents within the first eight months of this year and cited research from November 2022.
The study, conducted by British charity SafeLives, estimated that 7,000 women in Bermuda, or 27 per cent of Bermuda’s 2016 female population, had experienced or would experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.
Juanae Crockwell, the WRC’s executive director, explained: “At WRC, we believe that raising awareness of domestic abuse must be accompanied by increased access to support.
“It is essential that when a woman seeks support, she is met with the appropriate resources to ensure her safety and wellbeing post-crisis.
“This ranges from emergency safe housing and legal advice to ongoing therapeutic intervention and financial support.”
Ms Crockwell added that the WRC will continue fighting to expand local domestic abuse legislation to incorporate non-physical forms.
She added: “We are committed to advocating for legislation that protects all forms of abuse and support structures that ensure every woman in Bermuda has the resources she needs to be safe and thrive.”
Several events are planned for Domestic Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, starting with a proclamation at City Hall this afternoon.
Family lawyer Kathy Burgess will facilitate a protection order legal workshop on October 3 and Sherri-Lynn Lilley, from Pneuma Counselling and Consulting, will identify signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships on October 12.
People were encouraged to wear purple and donate to organisations that support survivors of domestic abuse on October 17.
That will be followed by WRC’s first Purple Thursday Gala, which will support survivors of abuse and the charity’s 2024 hardship fund, on the same date.
Meditation coach and motivational speaker Shera Hill will teach women how to use mindfulness to heal from trauma on October 26.
• Visit wrcbermuda.com or call 295-3882 to learn more
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