Women’s movement needs to be more assertive

There continues to be heightened anxiety and concern among our female population, mothers and daughters alike, over their security of person following the apparent second violent murder of a female just last month. It was the second femicide in our country in just the first three months of the year, following the fatal stabbing of a Campden Park woman in February.

The latest incident indicates that while the country seems absorbed by the ongoing incidents of gun crime among young men, there continues to be a persistence of violent crime against women, in many cases with fatal consequences. The problem just will not go away. It arouses emotions when any such incident is reported but it is the gun crimes which grab the headlines. This is not to say that positive efforts have not been made particularly by law enforcement to try and deal with the situation, and these must be supported and encouraged.

Last week Parliament, on both sides, felt so strongly about the gun violence that it took drastic steps to address the situation by passing legislation which substantially increased penalties for illegal firearm and ammunition possession. That is clearly a step in the right direction, but it does not adequately respond to the broader issue of violence against women, a sore sticking point in the fight against crime.

In the parliamentary debate, the Parliamentarians had their day on crime, its causes, ramifications etc. But if truth be told there was not enough emphasis on violent crimes against women often without the use of firearms but with the same deadly outcome. We cannot satisfy ourselves with emotional responses each time such an atrocity occurs.

It brings us to the issue of the response of the women’s movement in general to such situations. Today, unlike decades before, we have a highly intelligent, educated and experienced women’s sector. Women today occupy leadership positions in almost all areas of national endeavour but for some reason, we are yet to benefit from a collective response of our female population to acts affecting their safety and the security of the mothers and daughters of our nation.

Yes, we have had marches, prayer vigils etc. in response to particular situations, but women as victims, must have special concerns about such situations and proposals as to how they can best be handled. We have a battery of female lawyers, ample female representation in parliament and the Cabinet of the country, several doctors, trained psychologists and the like, it is time that their collective weight be brought to bear on the situation. We have even had lawyers taking the lives of women in full view of the public and the police in one instance. Clearly, they continue to be very vulnerable.

Is it not time for some bold initiatives on the part of our women leaders to come up with clear proposals and lobby parliament and woo government into addressing the situation with urgency? It is time for the weight of our women to be exercised in defence of their interests and the peace and security of our female population.