Changing gender discrimination and violence

THE Global 16 Days Campaign (Against Gender-Based Violence) officially started yesterday with International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. There will be people wearing orange ribbons and orange t-shirts, showing their support for ending gender-based violence. This is what happens every year.

There are few people and organizations that go beyond “awareness” to focus on the changes we need to make and the barriers we face as we make those efforts. We need to criminalize marital rape. We need gender-equal nationality laws. We need to name, count, and report on the sex- and gender-based killings of women and call them what they are: femicide.

We need to have a timeline and action plan for a referendum on the issue of nationality rights to ensure that equal rights are enshrined in the constitution. We need to come into compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), starting by actioning the priority recommendations made following the 2018 review. We are aware of the issues but need to agitate and advocate for them to be addressed with solutions that transform systems and improve quality of life.

Here are five actions to take during this first week of the Global 16 Days Campaign:

1. Talk to a young person about healthy relationships. They may not want to share their experiences with you, but you can share your own. You can encourage them to embrace their bodily autonomy, understanding that they have the right to say no to anything that is not comfortable and that they have the responsibility to accept“no” from others. Ensure that they know they can come to you if anyone makes them uncomfortable or if they need help leaving an unhealthy relationship. Prepare yourself to be a reliable, knowledgeable support person.

 

2. Assess the division of labour in your household. Who cleans the house? Who prepares the meals? Who is grocery shopping and meal planning? Who does the laundry? Who is responsible for remembering birthdays, and who plans the celebrations? Who pays the bills? Who makes arrangements for repairs and maintenance to get done? Who supervises that work? Who does the school drop-off and pick-up? Who helps with the homework? Who do the children go to with their concerns? Who talks to the neighbours? Who answers the door? Why are the duties divided in that way? Is it equitable? Have a conversation with others in the household about the way you all operate and the adjustments that can be made to ensure that no one is inundated with the work of maintaining the home and taking care of the family.

3. Observe interactions in the work place. Who takes up the most physical space? Who dominates conversations? Who interrupts and who is interrupted? Who must leave work to attend to family matters? Who gets promoted, and who doesn’t? Who cleans up after a meeting or a working lunch? How appropriate is the lighting outside of the building? Where is the parking area in relation to the entrance/exit and the lighting? Who plans the work events? Consider the factors that contribute to these decisions and practices. Identify the areas that gender affects. Are you comfortable raising this topic with others in the workplace? Why or why not?

 

4. Contact your Member of Parliament to share your concerns about gender-based violence and the lack of action to address it. Let them know that this is a pressing issue. Highlight the abandonment of the marital rape bill and the gender-based violence bill. Name the women and girls who were victims of sex- and gender-based killings and the refusal to call it “femicide.” Point to the lack of comprehensive sexuality education and the need for it to be in all schools so our children can recognize unhealthy behaviour, know about contraceptives, understand the law on consent and recognize predatory behaviour in adults, and know where to go when they need help. Remind them that there are not enough shelters to house survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. Ask them what they are doing to implement the InternationalLabor Organization’s Convention 190 on Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. Let them know that you know what they are supposed to be doing, that they are failing, and that the general election is quickly approaching.

 

5. Mark your calendar and attend some of the vents hosted by Equality Bahamas, which includes film screenings, solution-based discussions, and engaging with the arts. The full lineup is available at Lu.ma/16days25.

Below are details on some of the upcoming events:

Reclaiming Memory with Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, PhD on Wednesday, November 26 at 6pm. In this session, we’ll speak with the Chair of The Bahamas National Reparations Committee about memory, history, school curricula, and the demand for reparations. We’ll talk about the need to (re)connect with our history, keep memory, understand the relevance of our history to where we are today, recognize the challenges we face, and determine how we move forward in demanding our rights and reparations. Register at tiny.cc/16daysmemory.

Two-Faced: Gender Inequality in The Bahamas, a film screening on Thursday, November 27 at 6pm at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. This Gina Rodgers-Sealy film explores issues of gender inequality, including rape culture, discriminatory articles in the constitution, the lack of women’s rights in the country, the refusal of government administration after government administration to criminalize marital rape, and the root causes of gender inequality in The Bahamas. Register at tiny.cc/16daystwofacedfilm

Reclaiming Power: All We Want is Everything with Soraya Chemaly on Tuesday, December 1 at 6pm. Published earlier this month, Chemaly’s All We Want is Everything: How We Dismantle Male Supremacy is a “necessary manifesto . . . a call to refuse supremacist identities, relationships, and values in order to build more just, healthy, and sustainable worlds for everyone.” This conversation will delve into the themes of the book, apply them to the Bahamian context, and identify actions we need to take to achieve gender equality. Register at tiny.cc/26dayspower.

Reclaiming Recovery: People-Centered Disaster Preparedness with Yemi Knight and Kendria Ferguson on Wednesday, December 3 at 6pm. On the heels of the devastation caused by category five hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, this conversation will focus on disaster preparedness and the measures we need to take to ensure that it is inclusive, considering the specific circumstances of people who are situations of vulnerability and have increased risk of severe impact. Register at tiny.cc/16daysclimate

Tiny Movements: Film Screening and Discussion with Jenn Green and Laura Sweeney on Thursday, December 4 at 6pm. After learning her husband has been drugging and raping her for years, Jenn began a daily practice of dancing in her kitchen, calling on her years of movement training and practice to create space for healing. She filmed this practice, shared the videos on Instagram, and gradually shared her story. Following the screening, we will be in conversation with dancer and survivor Jenn Green and filmmaker Laura Sweeney about their work. Register at tiny.cc/16daystinymovements.

Reclaiming Stories: An Erasure Poetry Workshop with Sonia Farmer on Saturday, December at 9:30am. Erasure poetry is the act of removing text from recorded material to create a new narrative. Poet and founder of Poinciana Paper Press, Sonia Farmer, will guide participants through selecting newspaper articles and/or other found texts and transforming them in poetry. Register at tiny.cc/16daysstories

Reclaiming the Workplace with Suman Saurav and Keisha Ellis on Saturday, December 2 at noon. In March 2020, lockdowns and social distancing changed the workplace significantly, although many have since abandoned the practices since the restrictions were lifted. In 2022, The Bahamas ratified the International Labor Organization’s Convention 190 on Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, but has yet to implement it or even provide related and necessary education to employers and employees.

Climate disaster, grief, burnout, and many other events and factors affect our ability to work. How have workplaces adapted? What feminist practices are in place now? How are workers building solidarity and advocating for change? What does it take to build a workplace that recognizes the humanity of the worker and meets their needs? Register at tiny.cc/16dayswork.

Hurricane relief for Jamaica still needed

Jamaica is still in the early stages of recovery from category five hurricane Melissa. There are Jamaican organizations on the ground, working in and with communities, that need financial support to continue their work.

  • GirlsCARE Jamaica centres women and girls in its work at the intersection of climate and gender. It provides hygiene kits, water, power banks, mosquito repellent, tarpaulins, food, baby items, and other necessary products. Donations can be made via PayPal to girlscareja@gmail.com.
  • WE-Change Jamaica prioritizes LBQ+ women and provides direct cash assistance to affected people. Donations can be made via GoFundMe at gofund.me/5b6a69a3f.
  • Kindred on the Rock is a 70-acre farm that is building community, teaching new skills, and creating jobs. Its founder, Staceyann Chin, leads a group in purchasing supplies, making packages, and delivering them to people in some of the areas that suffered the most loss and damage. Donations can be made via GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/f/support-menddigap-incs-vital-mission.

Originally published in The Tribune on November 26, 2025.

Jamaica Relief

One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, Hurricane Melissa has brought devastation to the Caribbean, including Jamaica. People have lost their homes, hospitals have been destroyed, and the death toll across affected countries is now at 50. UNICEF has said that across the Caribbean, more than 700,000 children have been affected by this natural disaster, with many families being displaced, and education and emergency services disrupted.

Here are some organizations and friends that we know and trust on the ground in Jamaica that we encourage you to donate to:

GirlsCARE Jamaica is a “feminist climate activist movement that aims to create a space and empower young women to advocate for gender justice in climate action.” It engage directly with young women and girls, educating them on and support their work at the intersection of gender and climate. GirlsCARE Jamaica invites people to sponsor a young woman or girl directly or donate funds to the organization (by bank transfer). To be matched with a young woman or girl, or to arrange to make a cash donation, email equalitybahamas@gmail.com in order to reduce the administrative burden and transfer fees. GirlsCARE Jamaica now has PayPal as an option. PayPal email: girlscareja@gmail.com

Kindred on the Rock is a 70-acre farm homestead, founded by poet and activist Staceyann Chin for artists and activists. Folks there are building community, creating jobs, teaching and learning new skills, and caring for one another. The pig pen, dog house, and chicken coops were all destroyed, and neighbors and community are still assessing their losses. Kindred on the Rock is working to recover while serving as a base for people coming for food and shelter in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-menddigap-incs-vital-mission. 

TransWave Jamaica promotes the health and wellbeing of trans people through advocacy and visibility. The organization is delivering care packages, providing cash stipends, securing temporary housing for people who have been displaced, and supporting long-term recovery and rebuilding in the community. Donations can be made at rustinfund.org/2024/10/08/transwave-jamaica.

WE-Change Jamaica is a feminist advocacy organization “committed to the safety, joy and liberation of LBTQ women and non-binary people in Jamaica.” It engages in capacity building and has modeled community care in its activities and ways of working. WE-Change Jamaica is distributing emergency care packages and essential supplies as well as cash stipends to help people to purchase the items they need. Donations can be made at gofund.me/5b6a69a3f .

Black River sits within St. Elizabeth, called “the breadbasket parish of Jamaica” for its vital role in sustaining the nation’s food system. The parish’s farmers, fisherfolk, and small business owners are central to Jamaica’s agricultural output and food security. Sadly, Hurricane Melissa has left the beloved Black River and surrounding areas in St. Elizabeth devastated. Homes have been destroyed, families displaced, and many small businesses and farms, the lifeblood of this parish — have been wiped out.d security. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebuild-black-river-after-hurricane-melissa

Activists: Prosecuting doctor over abortion ‘dangerous, careless move’

Sept. 10, 2025 – The Tribune

Equality Bahamas Founder Alicia Wallace featured in The Tribune on September 10,  2025.

From The Tribune:

Equality Bahamas has condemned the decision to prosecute a gynaecologist accused of performing an abortion, calling it a “careless, dangerous move” and renewing its call for the procedure to be decriminalised in all circumstances.

The statement followed Monday’s dismissal of charges against Dr Jamil Minnis, son of former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. Charges were also dropped against the mother and sister of a 15-year-old Harbour Island girl accused of helping her terminate a pregnancy.

The case collapsed on the opening day of Dr Minnis’s trial before a jury. Prosecutors will now focus on rape charges against 24-year-old Alonzo Pinder, who is accused of impregnating the teenager.

Equality Bahamas said the case highlighted the dangers of maintaining outdated abortion laws. The group argued that treating abortion as a crime restricts access to healthcare, which it described as a fundamental right.

“This cannot be about the opinions of the masses. Abortion is a personal decision and need only involve the person seeking one and the medical professionals supporting them. In cases of rape and incest, it is particularly violent to expect survivors to carry resulting pregnancies to term,” the group said.

It added that prosecuting people under “archaic law” only causes further harm to those already traumatised. “This case should not have been brought to court not because it was dropped, but because it was based on archaic law that needs to change,” the statement read.

The organisation said the proceedings caused stress not only to the accused but also to people facing similar difficult circumstances.

Commonwealth Observer Group begin work in Guyana, ahead of September poll (The Commonwealth)

August 25, 2025 – The Commonwealth

Equality Bahamas Founder Alicia Wallace featured in The Commonwealth on August 25,  2025.

From The Commonwealth:

The Commonwealth Observer Group as part of its mandate will report on whether the elections have been conducted in accordance with the standards to which Guyana has committed itself, including its national law, regional and international commitments.

From today, the Group will meet with various stakeholders, including civil society representatives, political parties, the police, Guyana Elections Commission, citizen observers, and the media.

From August 30, the Group will be deployed in small teams across the country to observe the voting, counting, and results process.

On election day, they will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting, and results management processes, and issue an interim statement on their preliminary findings on September 3.

The group will depart Guyana on September 7, after preparing a draft of the final report which will then be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary General before being shared with relevant stakeholders.

[…]

Members of the Commonwealth Observer Group

Chairperson: Mrs Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, former Cabinet Minister of Tonga

The Commonwealth Observer Group members, in alphabetical order by country name, are:

Mr Shahariar Sadat – Deputy Executive Director, Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University – Bangladesh

Ms Alicia Wallace, Women’s rights activist – The Bahamas

Ms Angela Taylor, Former Chief Electoral Officer – Barbados

Mr Darrell Bradley, Former President of the Belize Senate and Mayor of Belize City – Belize

Mr Ademola Adeeko, Digital media strategist and communications professional – Nigeria

Mr Demion McTair, Communication lecturer, and award-winning journalist – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Ms Terry Dale Ince, Developmental specialist and human rights advocate – Trinidad and Tobago

Ms Robinah Rubimbwa, Mediator and peace activist – Uganda

Mr Ben Graham Jones, Electoral Expert – United Kingdom

Equality Bahamas fires back at Ingraham (The Nassau Guardian)

Press

May 20, 2025 – The Nassau Guardian

Equality Bahamas & Executive Director Alicia Wallace featured in The Nassau Guardian on May 20,  2025.

From The Nassau Guardian:

“The government has its own priorities, and there has been no public pressure of consequence to cause the government to move in one direction or the other,” he told the Tribune last week.

“The women of The Bahamas have not stepped up to the plate, as educated as y’all are, and said we demand our equal rights. No, they haven’t done so, and clearly the men who are in politics are not gonna go out of their way to have you all who are better educated than we are, more prepared than we are, but of course we have this dominant role in public life, so why do you expect these men, unless you push them, to change?”

The Bahamian constitution provides that a Bahamian woman

 married to a foreign spouse cannot automatically pass on citizenship to children born abroad.

It used to be understood that the constitution also prevented children born to an unmarried Bahamian man and a foreign woman from being entitled to citizenship at birth, but a landmark Privy Council decision changed that in 2023.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis has pledged to addressing the still-remaining inequalities through ordinary legislation — as past referendums on the issue, one in 2002 and another in 2016, both failed.

In 2023, he said his government would bring legislation to do so in 2024, but that has not yet happened.

Equality Bahamas Executive Director Alicia Wallace said yesterday that, as it relates to women’s rights and equality in The Bahamas, “unabashed ignorance continues across party lines, generations and levels of popularity and likeability”.

The organization noted that it has been advocating for equal citizenship rights for more than a decade, since the announcement in 2014 by then-Prime Minister Perry Christie of a constitutional referendum to address the issue.

Wallace said that blame has been cast on women, but it is the government’s obligation to ensure The Bahamas’ policy aligns with international human rights standards.

“Men opposed to women’s rights continue to use their positions and influence to try to make our work invisible, but our work is well-documented,” said Wallace.

“Their ignorance and disinterest does not and cannot erase or silence us.

“They erroneously suggest that it is our responsibility, as women—people experiencing discrimination and increasing levels of violence—to convince the government to make the changes necessary to advance women’s rights and move toward gender equality.

“The government is obligated to uphold human rights and to enact and amend laws and policies to align with international human rights standards.

“The men claiming women are not demanding equal rights are dishonest regarding their own objection to women’s rights and gender equality and the national consequences of their misogynistic positions.

“They hide behind falsehoods about the effort and impact of women’s rights organizations which they use to distract the public from their failures.”

Equality Bahamas said the Bahamian government has continued to fail to acknowledge its “culpability” in gender-based violence against women and “to take action to remove structural barriers to gender inequality”.

“Equality Bahamas calls on the government to engage with the women’s rights organizations and advocates with technical expertise and clear recommendations on pressing issues including gender inequality in nationality rights, marital rape, and domestic violence,” the press release said.

 

Equality Bahamas accuses govt of being ‘cowardly’ on marital rape issue

Press

February 4, 2025 – The Nassau Guardian

Equality Bahamas founder and co-director Alicia Wallace featured in The Nassau Guardian on February 4,  2025.

From The Nassau Guardian:

Equality Bahamas labeled the government “cowardly” after Attorney General Ryan Pinder admitted that it is unlikely that legislation to criminalize marital rape will come this term, suggesting concerns over the potential impact on the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) reelection chances.

In a statement yesterday, Equality Bahamas said parliamentarians – including the opposition – are “the arbiters” of violence against women in their repeated failures to move forward with legislation to address the issue in The Bahamas.

“Gender-based violence against women and girls continues to make news headlines causing temporary public upset while the government of The Bahamas, including the opposition, remains unmoved,” it said.

“The current administration is too cowardly to do what it ought by criminalizing marital rape and sees no danger in plainly stating that it is massaging the egos of anti-rights groups – masquerading as religious leaders – in exchange for votes at the expense of women’s lives.

“Members of Parliament are the arbiters of structural violence against women, actively choosing to abandon the Sexual Offences Amendment Bill, drafted in 2022, only to fail to pass the gender-based violence bill it attempted to use as a distraction.

“The comfort of every sitting member of Parliament in the silence on marital rape is indicative of misogyny and self-interest.”

The Bahamas is one of only a few countries on this side of the globe that does not have legislation to recognize that women can be raped by their husbands.

Section 3 of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act defines rape as “the act of any person not under fourteen years of age having sexual intercourse with another person who is not his spouse without the consent of that person …”

The matter continues to be identified as one of the country’s key human rights issues, and though repeated governments have pledged to address it, none have.

The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which went out for consultation more than two years ago, would repeal section three of the current law by removing the words “who is not a spouse” from the definition of rape.

However, the bill has not progressed past the consultation phase and has not been tabled in Parliament.

Asked last week about plans to move forward with the legislation, Pinder said the consultations suggested there “wasn’t yet a consensus and more education and consultation is necessary.”

When asked whether there is a concern about losing votes, the attorney general said, “I think every administration in the history of The Bahamas who has put this on the table and had it in front of it is worried about the same issue. There’s nothing unique about this. … There is a reason that no administration has passed it and every single administration has drafted a bill, every single one.”

Equality Bahamas Director Alicia Wallace said legislators represent the “most stubborn barriers” in the effort.

“They must be soundly rejected and dismissed from the duties they refuse to carry out,” she said.

She also noted that The Bahamas continues to be out of compliance with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which The Bahamas ratified in 1993.

Wallace said The Bahamas “continues to ignore the specific recommendations made to bring the country”.

“The CEDAW Committee, in its recommendation in 2018, called for adoption of the gender-based violence bill, criminalization of marital rape, and the investigation and prosecution of gender-based violence cases,” she said.

“We remind the government of The Bahamas that the ratification of CEDAW is a commitment to the women and girls of The Bahamas. It is not contingent on personal opinions, pressure from anti-rights groups, or general election concerns.

“Criminalization of marital rape and passing the gender-based violence bill are clear actions.

“The bills are drafted, and it is only left for the attorney general, minister of social services, and prime minister to champion them and members of Parliament to acknowledge, with their votes, that gender-based violence must end.

“It is not complicated.”

Activists criticise gov of being ‘spineless’ on marital Rape bill

February 3, 2025 – The Tribune

Equality Bahamas founder and co-director Alicia Wallace featured in The Tribune on February 3,  2025.

From The Tribune: 

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

The government’s decision not to move forward with criminalising marital rape this term has drawn sharp criticism from women’s rights activists, who see it as a betrayal of commitments to fighting gender-based violence.

Attorney General Ryan Pinder revealed last week that the Davis administration does not expect to introduce the legislation before the end of its term. When asked if the decision was motivated by political calculations, he suggested that every government grappling with this issue has faced similar concerns.

The announcement comes after former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham publicly expressed confidence in 2022 that the Davis administration would criminalise marital rape. It also follows statements from Pia Glover-Rolle, Minister of State for the Public Service, who insisted the government sees the issue as urgent and acknowledged the commitment of female parliamentarians to the cause. Other women parliamentarians, including Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, have expressed strong support for criminalising marital rape.

The Davis administration released a draft of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill in September 2022, proposing to redefine rape to include acts within marriage. However, progress on the legislation waned despite repeated calls from activists and international human rights bodies.

Former Minister of Social Services, the late Obie Wilchcombe, who was responsible for the Department of Gender and Family Affairs at the time, previously said the government hoped to complete consultations on the bill before early 2023. He emphasised that The Bahamas had to be mindful of its international human rights commitments.

Attorney and women’s rights advocate Marion Bethel said on Friday that she was incensed by Mr Pinder’s comment that the government will not act, arguing that it reflects a broader disregard for the safety and rights of women in The Bahamas. She criticised what she sees as the government’s prioritisation of business and commerce over fundamental human rights.

“If the government listens to voters, then they should be listening to women voters,” she said. “The work is for us as women to have a solid, unified front to this issue. We have to work towards that because it’s clear that not every woman in The Bahamas supports it either.”

Alicia Wallace, director of Equality Bahamas, was blunt in her assessment, accusing the government of siding with rapists rather than protecting survivors.

“It is consistently shown to us as women that marriage is actually a terrible idea in this country, because all it does for us is strip us out of access to our rights, in particular, our sexual and reproductive rights and the right to pass on nationality to our children,” she said. “This administration, like every administration before, it is spineless and incompetent and does not deserve anyone’s votes.”

The debate over marital rape has long been contentious in The Bahamas, with religious groups exerting significant influence. In September 2022, the Ministry of Social Services hosted a one-day symposium on the proposed legislation, but the event was dominated by religious leaders who voiced opposition to changing the law, according to Ms Wallace, who described the symposium as an attempt by the government to negotiate women’s rights without including women’s voices.

The Bahamas has faced international scrutiny for failing to criminalise all forms of marital rape, a violation of its obligations under the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which it ratified in 1993.

In 2023, Mr Pinder revealed that criminalising marital rape was the number one human rights issue countries raised with The Bahamas when the United Nations Human Rights Commission reviewed its record that year.

AG: Govt not likely to advance marital rape criminalization (EWN)

Press

Jan. 31, 2025 – Eyewitness News

Equality Bahamas founder and co-director Alicia Wallace featured on Eyewitness News on January 31, 2025

Click Here to Watch Full Video

International Day of Persons With Disabilities

Today is International Day of Persons With Disabilities.

We stand with persons with disabilities in The Bahamas, calling for the full implementation of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act— passed in 2014—and full compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (#CRPD). We recognize that the passing of laws does not automatically result in the intended outcomes. Investment and enforcement are required for legislation and policy to be successfully implemented and impactful. Persons with disabilities must be centered by all systems and in all activities to ensure that they have equitable access to resources and services.

We call on the Government of The Bahamas, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to meaningfully engage with persons with disabilities for the purpose of learning, adapting, and meeting their needs. We emphasize the importance of compensating persons with disabilities for their expertise. We must all invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion, understanding that these are not mere buzzwords, but obligations that will lead to the feminist futures we need.

“Brassy, Biggity and Bold” – a pop-up exhibition from IWD242

BRASSY, BIGGITY & BOLD
Sunday, March 26 2023
11am to 4pm
Poinciana Paper Press, 12 Parkgate Road

We had a great time and raised some funds for both Ponciana’s silkscreen efforts and for Equality Bahamas programming. There were International Women’s Day signs on display, as well as the opportunity to silkscreen your own t-shirt or tote bag with one of the signs we carried at the #IWD242 March and displayed at the Expo!