“All nations of the world have the disturbing task of grappling with one of the world’s most chronic, endemic and debilitating issues affecting the world today – violence against women and girls.”

“Violence against women is a global phenomenon. In all societies women and girls are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income, class and culture.

One woman is abused every eight seconds, one is raped every six seconds, spousal abuse is more common than accidents, muggings and cancer deaths combined, yet the seriousness and scope of this problem is often ignored. Violence against women is the most (committed) and least punished crime in the world.”

These were some of the issues brought to the forefront on Thursday, March 8, by Eulalie James, Minister of State in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, as women from all over the country gathered on the Brian Lara Promenade to celebrate International Women’s Day, under the theme, “Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls”.