Legislators, public officers, community leaders and students assembled November 25 to observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in the British Virgin Islands.

The event was spearheaded by the Office of Gender Affairs under the theme, “Orange the World: Call it out, respect women” to raise awareness and empower young women to denounce gender based violence.

Presentations were made to an audience of female students from various schools throughout the Territory including the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Primary, Cedar International, Seventh-day Adventist Secondary School, Jost Van Dyke Primary and St. Georges Secondary School.

Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable Shereen Flax Charles presented on ‘bringing your own seat to the table”; Sixth District Representative Honourable Alvera Maduro Caines spoke on “Owning your own business as a woman”; and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Lecturer Ms. Rochelle Smith spoke on “The Importance of being an educated woman”.

 Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms. Petrona Davies delivered opening remarks while Gender Affairs Coordinator, Tara Sue Morgan chaired the event.

Students also recited empowerment pieces to commemorate the day and wore orange ribbons to symbolise the international portion of the theme, “orange the world”.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence begins on November 25 on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and ends on December 10 on International Human Rights Day. The 16 days is an international campaign that highlights the link between violence-free lifestyles and human rights yearly.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitates the recovery of human development and quality of life in the British Virgin Islands.

Photo Caption: Legislators, public officers, community leaders and students assembled on November 25 to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in the British Virgin Islands spearheaded by the Office of Gender Affairs. (Photo Credit: Franklyn Skerritt/GIS)