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Plans> The Status of Women> Section 4 |
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The Status of
Women 2. MECHANISMS TO PROMOTE THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN It was some seventeen years after the declaration of the International Decade for Women, in October of 1992, that governmental machinery for the advancement of women in the British Virgin Islands was established. The Women's Desk was created as a result of the lobbying efforts of the Women's Focal Point, an umbrella body for the various non-governmental women's groups in the territory which was mandated to press for change. The Women's Focal Point group was established in October 1988 out of the expressed need for some type of machinery to focus on the growing number and intensity of the issues and problems which were affecting women in the territory. The mandate for the increasing pressure on government came out of the now historic 1988 national seminar on women. This forum identified the main problems affecting women in the British Virgin Islands as inadequate child care services, the abuse of women and children, the lack of representation by women within the legislature - the highest decision-making body; and inadequate legal coverage for women in the society. (Quoted in Harney et al 1992). In advocating for change in these areas, the Women's Focal Point proposed that Government establish a Women's Desk. The Desk, the group argued, would be responsible for educating the public about gender issues, the development of women and the need for women to be fully integrated into the development process. The specific objectives outlined for the Desk included:
Four years after the submission of this proposal, Eugenia O'Neal, a former Information Officer, was appointed to the Women's Desk in the Chief Minister's Office. The Desk, literally, is physically located within the department of Information and Public Relations and is staffed by one person who, until recently, shared a cramped office with an Information Officer. The restricted office space and the lack of any formal support staff presents some obvious difficulties for the Desk to carry out its mandate, and the Officer in charge has had to rely on the support of the other Departments in the Chief Minister's Office. Operating with a budget amounting to less than 0.02% of the national budget, the Desk acts as an advisory body to government departments and ministries on "women's affairs", and also organizes programmes and co-ordinates projects with private and public sector agencies. Its terms of reference include;
Realizing that there is great disparity between the few prominent women in the society who have apparently "..made it" and the majority of the invisible women who struggle to survive in the face of inadequate incomes, food, housing, health services, domestic and sexual violence, the Desk's goal is to strike a balance in catering to the needs of women at all levels of the society. Since its inception it has launched a series of public awareness and education campaigns aimed at all levels of society. Its Plan of Action to the year 2000 includes:
The implementation of this Plan of Action has seen the Desk, now in its second year of operation, forging important linkages with other government departments. Its programmes call for the involvement of the Health, Social Development, Education, legal, Police and labour Departments, as well as the Development Planning Unit. The Development Planning Unit, in particular, has committed itself to provide gender-based statistics on income, expenditure and all other economic activities. Other departments are also being made aware of the need to have these types of statistics in order to provide a data base to be used in the formulation of gender-specific policies and programmes. The Desk's inter-departmental linkages allows it to refer persons seeking assistance to the appropriate departments for services such as counselling, legal aid and welfare. In turn, its seminars on domestic violence and sexual abuse have been aimed at sensitizing police officers, members of the Social Development Department and the general public to the issues surrounding physical and sexual violence. A project aimed at forming a low-income workers association is being carried out in conjunction with the labour Department with assistance from the Social Security Board and the Immigration Department. One important achievement has been the creation of a law Reform Committee which will review the legislation relating to women and make recommendations to Government. The Committee is made up of representatives from the Women's Desk, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Social Development Department and non-governmental organizations. The Desk also ensures the consideration of gender issues in the formulation of policies, programmes and projects in other government departments. This has included submissions to the Constitutional Review Commission and the Health Reform Project. The establishment of the Women's Studies Section at the Public library should highlight the importance of these issues at that department as well. The Women's Desk which was established at the instigation of the national women's group, also works in close collaboration with non-governmental church and community organizations including the Family Support Network, a group which provides services for victims of domestic violence. The Desk has collaborated with this group and other groups like the Sea Cows Bay Community Club and the Methodist Women's Guild to organize public education programmes on female/male relationships, constitutional law, health and nutrition. The placement of the Women's Desk in the Chief Minister's Office for administrative purposes, its physical location in the Department of Information and Public Relations and its staffing by a former Information Officer allows the division a high degree of visibility, exposure and political viability. The Senior Administrative Officer has capitalized on this to accomplish the goals of the Desk and has made extensive use of the print and voice media in public awareness efforts. Given the multi-island nature of the British Virgin Islands and the challenging Plan of Action for the Desk, it is quite obvious that a one-person unit is insufficient to carry out its mandate. Additional staff and resources are required in order to make the Desk more viable and responsive to women's needs in the territory and to allow it to initiate the social action and legal changes that will impact positively on the lives of women. Currently, most of the Desk's activities have been focused on Tortola. This has been due to the lack of adequate mechanisms and human resources, but it has led to the reinforcement of feelings of alienation on the part of women in the "out islands". At a consultation in Virgin Gorda women claimed that not enough emphasis was placed on these 'out islands" and felt that programmes should be developed specifically for their island. They recommended that as a start, the Desk should forge linkages with the service organizations on Virgin Gorda in order to strengthen its ability to respond to the needs of the women on that island. While Tortola accounts for about 80% of the population it is important that additional mechanisms for the advancement of women be established in the other islands. It is critical that the programmes and projects be undertaken simultaneously on all the islands in order to avoid the perceptions of bias and favouritism which would only detract from the overall objectives. While the Desk has been able to forge linkages with other government and non-government agencies the format establishment of focal points for the advancement of women within government ministries would facilitate the process and strengthen the Desk. Efforts should also be directed at consolidating the relationships between the Desk and the women's non-governmental organizations. More concerted action in these areas could only enhance the move for equality development and peace.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Records indicate the existence of at least 17 non-governmental church and community service women's organizations. (Harney et al 1992). While all of these may not be active, the activities of agencies whose efforts are directed at the advancement of women are highlighted here. Some of them have special programmes which may be effectively duplicated elsewhere. The Family Support Network The Family Support Network ~(FSN) was established in 1981 as an outreach ministry of St. George's Anglican Church. It has since evolved into a non-denominational community service organization. Currently under the Directorship of Marlene Penn-Evans, the group is especially noted for services provided to victims of domestic violence, the overwhelming majority of whom are women. FSN provides short-term shelter, group counselling and referrals to the Social Development Department as well as to a psychologist. It also organizes educational seminars aimed at increasing awareness about the various forms of abuse, as well as the causes of stress and the development of coping skills. The group, comprised mainly of women, meets weekly and is now seeking to establish a Crisis Centre. FSN has collaborated with the Women's Desk in its awareness building campaigns, co-sponsoring workshops like the one on 'Women and the Constitution', and the Desk is also assisting FSN in the drive to establish the Crisis Centre. The BVI Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) CADA is a non-profit community organization whose aim is the prevention and reduction of alcohol/drug abuse problems. Established in 1981, it is governed by a Board of Directors and has a salaried Executive Director and 121 members. CADA collaborates with the National Drug Advisory Council and, through the Council, introduced a community-based drug treatment model for an Out-Patient Drug Treatment Facility in 1992. Its programmes include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, A]-Anon Family Group, and Food Addicts Anonymous. In addition, it has established an Employee Assistance Programme which is run by a family therapist and, provides help to deal with substance abuse and other personal problems CADA also conducts Work Release Programme for the Prison. The organization, which is led by Executive Director Joanne Penney, also has a female President and Vice-President and has established a Women's Group. This therapeutic group is led by a trained psychologist and addresses the impact of substance abuse problems on the lives of women. The weekly, lunchtime session costs $10.00, but CADA provides subsidization if it is necessary. CADA's public awareness campaigns have included information on drugs and pregnancy and the 'Fetal Marijuana Syndrome' in particular. CADA has a 24 hour hotline, as well a resource library and a Server Training Programme which provides on-going training in Responsible Beverage Service. CADA emphasizes proper responsibility to children and has initiated a school programme, CADA also provides support services for Parent's Meetings and is exploring the implementation of 'Babes' a puppet story-telling prevention programme for preschool and day care centres. In its efforts to provide efficient services, in 1992 CADA conducted Community Resource Meetings and created a Community Referral Network Directory. CADA has also made submissions to the Constitutional Review Commission calling for, among other things, the amendment of the BVI Constitution to reflect 'the UN covenants that guarantee women the right to equality before the law, the right to nationality, the right to marry/found a family and the right to vote.'(CADA letter to the Constitutional Review Committee, November 1993). Tortola Ladies Club 'A fellowship and community service organization', the Tortola Ladies Club was another one of the organizations which was established in 1981. The objectives of the 65 member group include the promotion of friendship and understanding, learning from each other through speakers and interest groups. The group which provides grants and services to special projects like CADA, the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly and an Annual Community College Scholarship. (TLC Membership Application Form). TLC has recently adopted a more "activist" direction has undertaken to increase awareness among its members about the problems affecting women, including domestic violence and rape, the plight of domestic workers and the need for lobbyists on women's issues. (Women's Desk Report 1993). The Club has also made submissions to the Constitutional Review Commission calling for amendments to sections of the Constitution which discriminate against women and ensuring the rights of the child. Methodist Women's Guild This group which was reactivated in 1988, offers enlightenment and the enrichment of spiritual well-being through guest speakers, creative activities and friendship and is open to members of other denominations. The group has organized discussions on various issues affecting women including stress, discriminatory laws, AIDS, effective parenting and domestic violence, and has expressed concern about the lack of a shelter for victims. Lions Club of Tortola II Formerly the Lionesses Club, members opted to separate when international developments led to the merging of the Lions and Lionesses Club into Lions Club, in order to ensure female leadership and focus. The club however, may admit males. It is involved in a number of community projects including a Diabetic Awareness Programme, Sight First, assistance to the elderly, the disabled and children. The group also supports the Health Department's Immunization Programme. Women's Focal Point As noted above, this organization was established in 1988 and succeeded in getting Government to set up the Women's Desk to deal with the issues facing BVI women. The organization which has not been very visible or vocal since that accomplishment of its original goal, is now identifying its next goal (CADA, 1992).
CONCLUSIONS While the preceding overview of the mechanisms for the advancement of women in the BVI is unlikely to be comprehensive, it does point to the existence of government machinery which has made considerable impact in its short term of existence. This has been accomplished in spite of very limited human and financial resources. The creation of strong collaborative relationships between the Desk and many of the non-governmental service organizations, many of whom have developed their own special programmes for women, can only work for the development of a more equitable society. This process, however, will require Government's financial commitment and the allocation of support staff in order to allow the Desk to accomplish its goals and extend its work to all areas of the territory. |
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