Five-year plan to be developed to combat domestic abuse
The Government has announced plans to tackle domestic abuse on the island over the next five years.
The initiative was outlined in the 2023 Throne Speech, which Rena Lalgie, the Governor, delivered on Friday, and comes after a Mutli-Agency Risk Establishment Conference was established to examine domestic abuse.
Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, said in July that the conference, in addition to a review from the charity SafeLives UK, helped form a domestic abuse strategy for the island.
The Throne Speech read: “The Ministry of Social Development and Seniors will now develop a five-year strategic plan to combat domestic abuse, mitigate against its familial and societal impacts and promote the safety of children and families experiencing this trauma.”
Priorities within the strategy include increasing domestic abuse awareness among professionals and the public, additional police training to improve survivor experiences, gathering additional data and reviewing existing policies and procedures.
Other proposed initiatives will affect foster and adoptive children in Bermuda.
The island’s first independent living centre for young people transitioning from the care system opened in March.
The facility in St George’s offers young people housing, life skills, support and educational planning for up to two years after they turn 18.
The Throne Speech read: “To build on the success of this initiative, the Ministry of Social Development and Seniors will extend the services provided to those young people starting at age 17, who, while remaining in the care of the Director of Child and Family Services, will also now benefit from the life skills preparation in this transitional stage where they begin to assume the responsibilities of independent living.”
In order to increase protections surrounding adoptive children and make it easier for Bermudians to adopt children from overseas, the Government will also consider amending the Adoption of Children Act 2006, as well as the 2013 Adoption of Children Regulations, within this legislative year.
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