Social workers enlightened on high price of domestic violence

Social workers have been shown the damaging ripple effects of domestic violence, not only on the family, but also on the economy.{{more}}

From September 23 to 25, social workers engaged in role plays, were reminded of the laws and taught how to work with both perpetrators and victims, at the “Domestic Violence Intervention/Prevention Training Programme for Social Workers”, which was held at the UWI Open Campus and was an initiative of the National Council of Women (NCW).

President of the NCW Nelcia Robinson said social workers were among the first professionals to deal with persons affected by domestic violence and it was essential that they be reminded of how important their roles are in the eradication the crime.

One of the facilitators, Manager of the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) Jacintha James, outlined the costly effect domestic violence had on families who had to pay medical bills because of physical abuse. She also observed that a financial strain was put on the government to cater to perpetrators of domestic violence who were sent to jail and children who might later become delinquents and criminals because they witnessed the abuse of their parent.

The NCW will also conduct workshops with members of the police force and nurses in the following weeks.

The workshop was funded by the British High Commission for the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados, with partners from the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development CNIRD, the national Commission on Crime Prevention NCCP, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force RSVGPF, the NCW Support Sub-Committee and the SVG Non-State Panel.