ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – Opposition leader Dr Keith Mitchell says he is concern about the number of women in leadership positions who fail to take a tough stand to protect their children, especially young girls, against sexual and other forms of abuse.
“Some women demonstrate strength outside of the home but fall short in the home. We have instances where men are destroying the home in all kinds of abuse and yet these women who are strong and vocal are failing to take action to protect the young girls,” he said while addressing a two-day workshop on Women in Politics and Leadership, organised by the Grenada National Organisation of Women in conjunction with the Parliamentary Women Caucus.
It was funded by the Organization of American States (OAS) through the Antigua based Caribbean Instititute for Women in Leadership.
The aim of the workshop was to provide women in leadership and politics a better understanding about their role in influencing young and other women and to get involved in politics and leadership work in their communities.
Mitchell, a former prime minister, called on women to take a stand for what is correct adding that they should not allow fear or society to determine their decision with regards to ending abuse within the home.
“You have to take a stand for what is correct, what is right and proper because society is affected when you as a woman fail, fail by covering up abuse of girls, fail to report the offenses to the authority, failing to protection the children of the nation,” he said.
Over the years, Grenada has reported increased cases of child sexual abuse and other forms of abuse. Official court figures show that almost one third of the cases before the Criminal Assizes are sexually related.
A recent study by the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) conducted in the sub-regional organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) revealed that most sexual victims are girls.
The report said that girls of all ages are at risk of intra-familial sexual abuse and this can happen at any age as the abuse of babies was reported during the research. (CMC)
