Press Release: Gender Based Violence is a Public Health Crisis in The Bahamas

It was reported that a woman accused a Member of Parliament of rape, physical assault, and threats of death against her and her family members. She reported to the police who, and the MP has not be questioned, much less charged. Equality Bahamas released this statement on Monday April 17, 2023.

Gender-based violence against women and girls is a public health crisis in The Bahamas. A Member of Parliament has been accused of physical and sexual violence as well as threats of death, and the reported story from the survivor includes action and inaction by police to impede her access to justice. The survivor shared numerous effects of the violence she experienced on her physical and mental health. 

Survivors must be able to confidently and confidentially report gender-based violence, be assured of access to justice, and receive immediate resources and support services including safe housing and mental healthcare. The Government of The Bahamas must implement the Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence which has been shelved for several years since being tabled in the House of Assembly in February 2016. 

Equality Bahamas stands in support of the survivor who shared her story, and all survivors who have and have not shared their own. “Ms. Rolle’s is one of many survivor stories that point to corruption, abuse of power, and deliberate protection of violent criminals,” said Director of Equality Bahamas Alicia Wallace. “In addition to demanding legal reform to promote and uphold women’s human rights, we demand access to our inherent right to equal protection of the law. While no one is above the law, we see, every day, that money and titles make it possible for people to circumvent the law when weak people controlling flawed systems approve it.”

The increased frequency of news reports of sexual violence and insufficient responses are indicative of persisting and unchallenged gender ideology that perpetuate violence against women and girls.The Bahamas has an obligation to end gender-based violence against women and girls. In its Concluding Observations in 2018, the CEDAW Committee recommended that the government ensure that the police and courts expeditiously address complaints from women and girls about gender-based violence, and “develop an action plan to eliminate discriminatory gender stereotypes, which incite violence against women and girls, and establish monitoring mechanisms to assess the impact of such measures.” It called for adoption of the gender-based violence bill, criminalization of marital rape, and ensuring cases of gender-based violence are investigated and prosecuted. 

“The Government of The Bahamas voluntarily ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1993. Thirty years later, its failure to come into compliance with the Convention continues. The ratification of CEDAW is a commitment to the people of The Bahamas, to women and girls in particular, made through the United Nations treaty body, and it is accountable to us,” said Ms. Wallace. 

Equality Bahamas calls upon the Prime Minister of The Bahamas to immediately dismiss the accused Member of Parliament, rebuke gender-based violence and its perpetrators, and allocate the necessary resources for the implementation of the Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence as a measure to prevent and intervene in cases of gender-based violence and support the growing number of survivors.