UNITED NATIONS (CMC):
A Barbados government minister has attributed the persistent violence and discrimination against women and girls primarily to cultural mindsets and the dependency syndrome.
"That syndrome has placed many of Barbados' women and girls in positions that make them vulnerable to both exploitation and cruelty," Minister of Social Transformation Trevor Prescod told the 51st Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Wednesday.
He said his country's specific achievements in eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child include the institution, in 1962, of universal primary and secondary education, with compulsory school attendance up to age 16.
In addition, Prescod said there were a number of initiatives, including a school meals programme in primary schools, an educational assistance programme and EDUTECH, a programme which integrates information technology into the learning process.
He said currently, about 16 per cent of those graduating from secondary schools pursue tertiary education, of which 70 per cent are girls.
Prescod said there is free access to medical care and prescription drugs, and that victims of sexual violence are given emergency contraceptive medication to prevent pregnancy and antiretroviral medication to safeguard against HIV/AIDS.
On trafficking, he said that, through partnership with civil society groups, the Owen Arthur administration has formed a coalition with regional and international organisations to fight the scourge.
But the Social Transformation Minister said the challenge of increasing reports of child abuse, especially sexual abuse, remains.
He, however, said, effective April 2007, Child Care Officers will be based within the community "as a proactive mechanism to protect the overall welfare of children."
Speaking at the same session, Faith Webster, executive director of Jamaica's Bureau of Women's Affairs, said a national gender-advisory committee has been set up in 2004 to advise the government on its gender portfolio.
She also said a national policy to address violence against women and girls would soon be developed that "would remove deeply entrenched stereotypes regarding power relations between men and women."
