Our Mandate:
To advocate for and on behalf of women and children who are victims of gender based violence and lack of access to swift justice
PRESS RELEASE
British High Commission Funds Training Programme for Front Line Social Service Agency Employees
Castries Saint Lucia, Wednesday, 11th, January 2017: Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc.
The British High Commission has awarded a grant to Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc. to provide training for front line social service agency workers and institutions which provides support services to women and children who are victims of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, child sexual and physical abuse.
The Rt. Honourable Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom will be present to officially launch the project on Thursday 12th January 2017 at the New Financial Centre, Pointe Seraphine. The Baroness is the UK Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
Following the launch, a two day consultation is set for Tuesday January 17th and Wednesday January 18th, 2017 at the conference room of the National Mental Wellness Centre from 9:00 am to discuss the challenges and gaps to providing services for women and children who are victims of violence. The project will be facilitated by Professor Lori K. Sudderth, Ph.D. Professor of Criminal Justice, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT USA.
The project runs from January 2017 – May 2018 focussing on processes and procedures to improving service delivery and strengthening institutional response of social services agencies in Saint Lucia
The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment has welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc and the British High Commission on this initiative.
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN & FAMILIES FURTHER MARGINALIZED?
We understand the program for the Assessment of Special Needs Children has been terminated and/or discontinued by the Ministry of Health & Wellness.
This special needs assessment was done by a trained Medical & Pediatric Professional contracted by the Government of St. Lucia through the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The evaluation is mandatory for each child who may display issues such as Health, Vision, Social and Emotional Development Challenges, Learning Disability, Poor Academic Performance, Underdeveloped Communication and Motor skills, etc.
The number of children on the waiting list for this program may well be in the hundreds, while there is a private entity offering the same services, many families cannot afford the fees as they must remain with their special needs child at all times, as some children require round the clock care or cannot attend school without the assessment report.
We, therefore call on the Hon. Allen Chastanet, Prime Minister & Minister for Finance, Sen. Mary Isaac, Minister for Health and Wellness, Hon. Dr. Gale T. C. Rigobert, Minister for Education and Hon. Lenard Montoute,
Minister for Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, to reinstate this program, for the benefit of poor struggling mothers at the earliest.
The termination of this program further marginalizes special needs children, specifically those whose parents are poor, underprivileged, unemployed, underemployed, rural and struggling.
PRESS RELEASE
OutRight Action International an international NGO which fights for human rights of LGBTIQ people everywhere. OutRight works at the international, regional and national levels to research, document, defend, and advance human rights for LGBTIQ people around the world has awarded a grant to Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc and United & Strong Inc for a joint Caribbean project entitled "Frontline Alliance: Caribbean Partnerships Against Gender Based Violence".
The aims of the project are as follows:
Carry out research to identify existing domestic violence legislation, processes and procedures;
Identify gaps in existing gender based violence legislation, processes and procedures;
Develop sensitive and respectful processes and procedures to provide services to victims of gender based violence;
Provide training to employees of agencies and individuals who provide services to victims of gender based violence;
Advocate for gender neutral legislation and improved services for victims of gender based violence;
The official launch of this project is scheduled for Thursday 9th, May 2019 at the Ministry of Social Justice, Conference Room, 4th Floor Greaham Louisy Administrative Building, Waterfront, Castries from 10:00 am.
Presentation of Declaration for Action to Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony on International Women's Day March 8th, 2016.
PRESS RELEASE
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based
Castries Saint Lucia, Saturday, 21 October 2017: Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc.
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) has awarded a grant to Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc. to host 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence from November 25th – December 10th, 2017.
Her Excellency, Marie Legault, Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean will be present to officially launch the project on Wednesday 25th, October 2017, at the Ministry of Social Justice – Conference Room, 4th Floor Greaham Louisy Administrative Building, Waterfront, Castries from 10:00 am.
A program of activities follows from 25th, November; the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10th, December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.
100 Women Who Care Donate To Raise Your Voice!
Valerie Jenkinson, Chair of 100 Women Who Care Saint Lucia, describes the organization as “a group of dedicated women who care deeply about Saint Lucia.” The group meets every quarter for a one hour meeting where each member donates EC$100 which is donated to a charity that the group selects through ballot. Members nominate a charity of their choice and the list is narrowed down to three. Representatives of these charities are invited to make a five minute presentation as to why they should receive the donation. Members then vote and “all” of the money collected for the quarter goes to the charity with most votes.. In the past year the organization, which now stands at just over 100 women, has donated over EC$28,000 to local charities.
Presentation of supplies to Special Needs Families
Meeting with Commissioner of Police Mr. Severin Moncherry & ACP Crusita Pelius, Tuesday April 5th, 2016 to discuss matters of mutual interest i.e. Introducing the Concept of Victim’s Aid. Inter Agency Collaboration & Communication with regards to management of cases and support for women and children who are victims of violence (Department of Human Services & Gender Relations, Hospital Emergency Room Staff, Family Court, Probation, DPP Offices, Media, NGO’s etc), and Sharing of ideas and information to ensure the proposed response team to assist and support the VPT Unit will adequately serve the victims of sexual crimes, etc
Ithaca University, Journalism Students meets with Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony. The Students are on Island to assist Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc in producing a Public Education & Awareness PSA's on Domestic Violence, Rape, Child Abuse & Other Crimes Against Women & Children.
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