Department of Community Rehabilitation

Published 22nd October 2008, 12:0am

According to the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA) the Caribbean may be amongst the most violent regions in the world. Fifty percent of women experience psychological abuse, while 10-35 percent suffers physical violence each year.

These disturbing statistics were shared with the 23 participants of a recently concluded three-day Domestic Violence Intervention Training Programme organised by the Women's Resource Centre, now part of the Community Development and Empowerment Agency.

A sensitization workshop targeting police officers, social workers and other frontline professionals who interact with domestic violence victims, the programme is to be offered quarterly across all three islands. The next workshop is scheduled for Cayman Brac from 20 - 22 January, 2009.

Workshop participants included representatives from the Children and Family Services and Community Rehabilitation departments; Cayman Islands Crisis Centre; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service; British Red Cross - Cayman Islands; local churches; primary school counsellors, and the Health Services Authority.

Persons interested in participating in this or other programmes may contact Mrs Miriam Foster or Mrs Cindy Blekaitis at Miriam.Foster@gov.ky , Cindy.Blekaitis@gov.ky or on 949-0006. Additional information is also available at www.wrc.gov.ky .

Sidebar: Community Development & Empowerment Agency (CDEA)

The Community Development & Empowerment Agency (formerly the Women's Resource Centre) focuses on community empowerment initiatives; parenting and vocational skills training; support for sexual and domestic abuse survivors; and crisis intervention.

Recently restructured, the agency also includes the entities formerly known as the National Parenting Programme, the Community Development Unit, and the Young Parents Programme.

Source: Ministry of Health and Human Services.