A three-day gender-based violence workshop began yesterday at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue. The activity is the result of the collaboration of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security (MLHSSS). Twenty youth participants from Regions Four, Six and Ten will benefit from the training based on “edutainment” which combines a form of entertainment design to educate as well as amuse. UNIFEM Representative, Tonni Brodber said the project has been implemented across the region along eight different territories,Wholesale China Jerseys, “and this is just one element of the wider work we are trying to do in the region to end violence against women.” She explored the statistics of physical and sexual abuse, which revealed that according to the United Nations Development Fund for Women’s Executive Director, “at least 70% of women have experienced physical and sexual violence from men in their lifetime, it happens everywhere at home and at work, on the streets and schools, during peace time and conflict.” Brodber noted that the Caribbean has experienced a high level of violence, since the 2007 World Bank Report estimated the overall murder rate for the Caribbean is four times that of North America. And three islands in the Caribbean ranked in the ten countries that had the highest rates of rape in the world, which is very alarming. The UNIFEM representative explained that one in four women in Guyana has been physically abused in a relationship; approximately 30% of women surveyed in Trinidad and Tobago have experienced domestic violence; 67 % of women in Suriname have experienced violence in their relationships; while 30% of adult women in Antigua & Barbuda, and Barbados have experienced some form of domestic abuse. In acknowledging that there is a need to end the high percentage of violence in the region, Brodber said, men and women in society need to view violence as an overall threat to the well being of society, and both sexes must address the issue of gender relations. She added that the statistics reveal perpetrators of sexual, physical and economic violence in intimate relationships are usually men. However, Brodber said, to acknowledge this does not negate the fact that men who are affected by the same violence in relationships exist. Using as a reference a quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, “the society that permits violence against women, is a society that is on its way out,” Brodber stressed that it should be absolutely unacceptable that a place as beautiful as the Caribbean should be so insecure for women and for men, and so violent in general. According to Director of Youth, Carl Brandon, young people who are the leaders of tomorrow need to be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to perform to their best in the near future. “A child lives what he/she learns, and a child learns what he/she lives. The adults are supposed to be providing the model for the youngsters…very often the model is not present.”?? Permanent Secretary of MLHSSS Trevor Thomas said, unfortunately in society, persons can be accustomed to hearing,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, reading, or watching incidences of violence which become a norm after a while. Thomas noted that sometimes in society, punishment and violence are used together, which causes violence to be accepted. Adding that entertainment contributes to the glamorisation of violence, Thomas said, entertainment and music are good, however, when they are used to degenerate women and promote violence, this has a very negative effect on society. Thomas stated that music can also be used to counter these negative effects, since positivity has to be promoted in entertainment, and “edutainment” is one such way. In response to the prevalence of violence in the region, UNIFEM in partnership with the Association of the Caribbean Commissioners of Police has developed a project to strengthen state accountability to end violence against women. After the workshop, which concludes tomorrow, participants will return to their communities where they will conduct four one-day workshops with their peers on the issue with support from the MLHSSS and their respective organisations. (Rabindra Rooplall) Woman accused of forging will granted bail Sharon Seymour of 105 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme yesterday appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton to answer the indictable charge of forgery of a testamentary instrument. The allegation is that Seymour, a market vendor and caterer, on October 5, 2007, in an attempt to defraud, forged the last will and testament of Simeon Sam. Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford requested the administration of the Justice Act to the matter making it possible to try