I have always opined that one particular method in seeking to arrest the rapidly declining social moral standards in our society, and even within the Caribbean region, is to begin a serious, sustained sensitisation and awareness programme among the younger people. This view is supported by the observation that youths have been captive audience to immoral and other heinous acts committed by adults, beginning from the home where the negative examples are established, and the conditioning begins. Thus it becomes imperative that the battle for the minds, so to speak, of today’s youths commences in earnest, especially when it comes to the question of gender based violence, a most common, brutal feature of daily social behaviour.

The recently held workshop on gender-based violence, organised by the Human Services, and Culture and Sports Sectors in conjunction with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, is indeed very timely. By its spread, there is every indication that the convenors intend to sensitise as many young people as possible. I would hope that this programme will include young representatives from the other regions, as well.

Let us be realistic: that gender-based violence is chronically endemic; a permanent feature that has tentacled itself deeply into the mosaic of this society; and no amount of wishes or platitudes are going to eradicate the horrific trend as evidenced by the media report of  an average one death per week. Listen to the language used by many youths “ Ah gon manners she!”, “He want e skin hut e!” etc. All violence intended that reflects a young psyche deeply immersed in the fount of philistinism. Too many of today’s young men see violence as a macho benchmark, especially as it relates to relationships with the opposite sex – a deleterious example set by many of the older males. And similarly as the level of gender-based violence is astronomical among the more mature-aged couples, there is, I believe, similarly high levels that exist among very young-aged couples. This is the younger version of this brutality waiting to be told.

It is hoped that those youths who would have attended this two-day gathering would also become the torch bearers within their respective regions, even challenging their male relatives who are practitioners of this cruel practice of gender violence.