On Tuesday, March 3, family and friends of Melissa Silvera, nee Walter, convened a peaceful protest at Emancipation Park in her honour.

Approximately 100 relatives, friends and concerned citizens gathered in solidarity and to publicly reject the social norms and the legislative gaps that continue to leave Jamaican women and girls vulnerable to gender-based violence. 

No More Excuses. No More Silence. No More Violence.

#StopGenderBasedViolence #ProtectOurWomen #JusticeforMelissa

Why?

• 1 in 4 women in Jamaica experience intimate partner violence or sexual violence.
• Most victims of gender-based violence in Jamaica are women and girls under the age of 24.
• Less than 20% of women report physical or sexual abuse to the police.

Source: Jamaican Women’s Health Survey 2016

We, concerned citizens of Jamaica, want:

• Immediate review and amendment of the Domestic Violence Act to close enforcement gaps.
• Legislative clarification that “provocation” cannot be used to justify lethal violence.
• Effective enforcement of legislation to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.
• Mandatory training for police judges and prosecutors on coercive control and intimate partner violence dynamics. 
• A national conversation about citizens’ stance on gender-based violence.