Thread by @_AliciaAudrey

Some people think I'm being inflammatory when I say the gov't isn't moving on #MaritalRape because it doesn't care about women and both includes and relies on rapists for support. See today's @Tribune242 headline about a RAPIST MP for a horrible reality check.

News story after news story about gender-based violence against women, and the Government of The Bahamas REFUSES to take action. A few MPs or senators may make a useless statement about their sadness or shock and the need to do something, but nothing more. No bills tabled.

Years of work have resulted in development of plans and policies, draft bills, and programs. Administration after administration, and NOTHING.

It's important to know that the lack of action is not due to lack of information or solutions. It is lack of political will. Inaction.

The gov't, whether a PLP- or FNM-led admin, does not give a fuck about women.

It knows its obligations. It has the draft bills and plans and policies and programs and and and. It does not have A MASS of loud, consistent people demanding action and stating consequences.

Women+girls are experiencing violence every single day. It takes many forms, and often includes financial abuse which limits ability to leave violent relationships and find safe, stable homes. With very few shelters and an insufficient social protection, women+girls are trapped.

We need legal reform, like the criminalization of #MaritalRape, feminist policymaking, national programs to eliminate gender stereotyping, strong social protection, intervention specialists and programs, and implementation of the Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence.

Electoral reform is also critical. We need to be able to choose candidates, to have the true choice to support independent candidates without losing input in who becomes PM, to know where campaign financing comes from, and a recall system so we can dismiss MPs.

Next week, a documentary on women's rights in The Bahamas will premiere at Fusion. It includes a broad look at the situation now, stories from survivors, and recommendations to the government. Look out for more information on that.

Last month, @Equality242 participated in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pre-Session, making an oral statement which includes clear recommendations we want UN Member States to make to The Bahamas.

Those recommendations include:
- Criminalization of marital rape
- Legislation for gender-equal nationality law (as a temporary measure)
- Timeline + action plan for constitutional referendum
- Legislation for non-discrimination, particularly on the basis of gender and sexuality

The Bahamas will go to UPR and hear recommendations from UN Member States in May. We expect recommendations from the previous cycle to be repeated as they have yet to be implemented--a clear indication of The Bahamas' disinterest in protecting and promoting human rights.

There are people in this country who do not believe women are people. They think women are subhuman + that we are the property of men--our fathers, brothers, husbands. They suggest that the men who "own" us are responsible for protecting us, so they tell us to cling to them.

If our father, brothers, husbands are people we need to he protected from, tough luck. Then the argument is we need to be submissive. Follow their instructions. Make ourselves smaller. Suffer. Take abuse as our lot in life. Do not bring shame to our families, as if we are wrong.

Women are people. We cannot be owned. We should lives of freedom and dignity. Where our rights are known, respected, and upheld.

Focus on protection is acceptance of a gender-unequal world where GBV proliferates. This country, this world, needs to change.

The article referenced in the first tweet is now online.

tribune242.com/news/2023/apr/…

Why do you think police would "interview" a woman reporting physical and sexual violence for FOUR HOURS?

Why would police try to get her to sign a statement saying she would take no further action?

Why would police, when a woman is reporting acts of violence against her, refuse to charge him? Why do they need eye witnesses to take a report seriously?

The Christie administration put together a Gender-Based Violence Task Force. It was chaired by Dr. Sandra Dean Patterson, Dr. Robin Roberts, and Justice Rubie Nottage. The task force worked for years and produced the Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence in 2015.

The Strategic Plan was tabled in the House of Assembly in February 2016 by Christie. UN Women praised the Strategic Plan.

SEVEN YEARS LATER, it is sitting on a shelf. No budget. No implementation.

@Equality242 brings it up regularly, quotes from it, calls for budget + action.

The Gender-Based Violence bill was drafted years ago, revised in 2016.

Days ago, Minister of Social Services said, when asked about the bill, that the government would not "rush."

It has been SEVEN YEARS since the revision. Rush?!

He also claimed to be in consultation with NGOs (plural!) on the bill. I contacted the appropriate offices to find out why @Equality242 wasn't included in consultation and was told the "consultation" is with one organization. That org is fine, but... What?!

The gov't is not serious abt human rights. It's not concerned abt the women + girls experiencing violence. The MPs putting out statement don't care. If they did, they would TABLE THE BILLS. Rally their peers. Risk their political careers.

We are not worth it to them.

Let me put it more clearly:

🔊 The Members of Parliament, elected by the Bahamian people, value their political careers and the perks that come with it (like evading criminal charges) over the safety, dignity, freedom, rights--the LIVES--of women and girls.

Two-Faced: Gender Inequality in The Bahamas premieres on Wed, April 26 at 7pm at Fusion. Tickets available at Hoffer and Sons in Cable Beach, Sears and Co at 10 Market Street, and Kennedy Medical in Galleria Plaza West.

**Includes survivor stories**

instagram.com/reel/CrD46RgMK…