UN House Ablaze in Orange to Symbolize A Future Free of Violence

UN House in Barbados has been transformed into a beautiful orange glow, calling attention to the hundreds of women who suffer in silence and shame, and demonstrating the commitment by the UN and partners, to continue to fight to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

The transformation came as members of the UN Sub-regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, joined by Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, civil society representatives, development partners, and representatives of the Government of Barbados, participated in a Sunset Lighting Ceremony to observe 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.

The ceremony, held in partnership with the Government of Barbados, and under the technical leadership of UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean, had as its highlight the commitment by both parties to the re-launch of the UN Women Partnership for Peace Programme in Barbados. The anti-violence initiative has been successfully running in the Caribbean for more than 15 years.  

Addressing the gathering, UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, said while it was gratifying to see the spotlight being placed on the horrific issue of Gender-based Violence as they joined millions around the globe to observe the #16DaysOfActivism under the global theme “UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls”, “the end was “far from today’s reality.”

In this regard, the RC cited daunting statistics of one in three women worldwide or 39 to 55% of those in the Caribbean experiencing intimate partner violence, with 12 violent gender-related deaths of women daily in Latin America and the Caribbean, as reported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

“But what the numbers don’t tell, is that there are survivors in all our neighbourhoods. They don’t tell the stories of Sandra, Michelle, Rosie, and the victims who often feel trapped, and afraid of seeking help. Many of these women live in isolation, they feel invisible, and are forced to be silent at the hands of violence and discrimination,” Mr. Trebucq lamented, adding: “Unless women and girls thrive, societies as a whole fail to thrive. Together, we must reach every woman.”

Minister of Labour, Social Partnership Relations and the Third sector in Barbados, the Hon. Colin Jordan, a longstanding gender advocate, told the gathering his Ministry was “committed to addressing the vexing issue,” of Gender-based violence.

“We believe that addressing Gender-based Violence in the workplace will have a great impact in the wider community,” he maintained. 

In delivering remarks, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, Ms. Tonni Brodber said GBV is a human rights issue, which has “unfortunately been normalized in society.”  

Underscoring the need for reliable data that is ethically collected, she noted that statistics show that women are the main victims of violence, and that boys or girls who face corporal punishment and witness their mothers being abused, themselves go on to be either victims or perpetrators of such.

Ms. Brodber, told the gathering the UN was excited to work with the Government of Barbados for the re-launch of the Partnership for Peace Programme in Barbados which would start next year, noting that the initiative had been ongoing in the Caribbean for over 15 years, with low recidivism rates for violent offenders, particularly in Grenada.

The UN Women Head expressed a desire to see a world where: “Everyone has equal access to resources, opportunities, justice, and ability to fulfil their potential. Better ways to love and lose without violence.”

In his Feature Address Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, The Hon.  Kirk Humphrey gave a personal and first-hand account of growing up in an impoverished neighbourhood, where himself and many of his peers witnessed their mothers and sisters being victims of domestic abuse at the hands of intimate partners, including their stepfathers.

Minister Humphrey cautioned against looking at the fact that the Prime Minister and President of Barbados were female, as well as many other Government Ministers, and believing that “everything is alright,” since these numbers were disproportionate.

“In these times, when you have been a Minister long enough, or a diplomat long enough, we forget that we are mere mortals, that we too are human,” he charged, pledging Government’s full commitment to work with the UN and other partners to address the scourge of GBV and support the many vulnerable women living with this horror daily.

Following the formal proceedings, guests moved to the outside to witness the Lighting Up of the building and the environs. UN House will remain illuminated until December 10, Human Rights Day, which also marks the end of the 16 Days of Activism, which commences on November 25 annually.

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Media Contacts:

Carol-Ann Gaskin, Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and Advocacy

UN Resident Coordinator Office; Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org: Telephone: 1(246) 467-6110