Grange opens shelter for battered women

A second government shelter for women has been opened in Jamaica as part of a move by the state to provide housing to "very high-risk victims".

"I'm so happy we have a second shelter that is ready," said the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, as she opened the facility for victims of domestic abuse.

Grange said that the shelter "is ready to accept women and their children who have had abusive situations and need to move from that kind of situation into a shelter where they get protection".

The opening and tour of the new facility took place on Human Rights Day - at the end of the 16 Days of Activism towards eliminating violence against women.

"We are celebrating 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and I scheduled this tour so that I could demonstrate that we are doing something about protecting our women and that we have facilities that are ready to be occupied. So here we have additional facilities. This facility can house approximately 13 persons. It's a comfortable facility... What we have been able to do is to say to the public that we are ensuring that our women are protected - that we create safe spaces for them," Grange said.

The minister said that women who go to government shelters will receive counselling in an environment free from violence or judgement.

"The environment is quite therapeutic; it is evident that this is a place to heal," said the programme manager for the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Vanna Lawrence.

The European Union has provided EU8M, under the Spotlight Initiative.

Aside from counselling, women who attend the government shelters will also receive training to increase their economic options. One of the new training programmes, which will begin in the new year, will be sponsored by the High Commission of Canada.

"There'll be a project starting probably January that will do income generation or stuff to keep the women and their families busy including hydroponics... We're looking at about 15 beneficiaries and it'll be a small scale project but it'll be enough to hopefully get people back on their feet," said the High Commissioner of Canada, Emina Tudakovic.

Woman in need of shelter may call the national helpline at 876-553-0372.