The Bahamas Crisis Centre will host this year’s Caribbean Regional Peace Conference next month where anti-violence advocates from around the world will converge to discuss new methods and strategies to help both victims and perpetrators of abuse.
The event will be held under the theme, ‘Peace at homes, Peace in the community.’
Crisis Centre volunteer and counselor Donna Nicolls said over the past 30 years the centre has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of victims.
She said the Crisis Centre is more than happy to be celebrating this three decade milestone by hosting the four-day conference, which will draft other advocates to shed light on abuse and its related issues.
“At the end of the four days, we will take everything we have learned and garner through the conference and take those things to move forward in our country and to move forward regionally,” she said.
“We want to use this conference as a catalyst, a movement of peace, a real true commitment to peaceful solution in everything.”
International and local speakers include Anita Botty, advisor to US President Barack Obama on women’s issues. She will deliver the keynote address on the first day of the conference.
A number of authors of domestic violence books and articles as well as domestic violence abuse survivors will also attend.
Male volunteer Deran Thompson, said men, whether they know it or not, play a critical role in stopping rape and abuse against women.
“The reality of abuse is that most abuse is done towards women from men,” he said. “So it’s very important that we have men involved in this conference, so that they learn how to deal with managing themselves and not having to become and be involved in abuse.”
“So we’re asking all men to become a part of this. They must know that they don’t have to become abusers and we can spread that word and the message of peace.”
Mr. Thompson said a number of male volunteers from around the world will also attend the event to expose more from their end.
The Caribbean Regional Peace Conference will take place from September 18 to 21 at the Sheraton Hotel.
