By building upon its past successes, secured through women’s direction of women’s affairs, the incoming NDP administration will get out of women’s way by:
1. Reforming sections of the police force by:
a. Creating a special unit within the CID staffed not only by trained female and male officers, but with consulting doctors, social workers and counsellors, with specific training and facilities to address complaints of domestic and sexual violence;
b. Training all police officers, especially in district police stations, to address domestic violence and rape allegations;
c. Making it mandatory that all allegations of abuse be recorded and acted upon;
d. Providing CID and district police stations with templates for the interview, advice to and follow up of domestic violence and sexual violence complaints; and
e. Requiring the presence of a female officer at all times at all stations to receive or be physically present at the receipt of complaints of sexual violence.
2. Revising and broadening the police training manual to include training for all police recruits in domestic violence and human trafficking.
3. Implementing the mandatory use of rape kits in medical examinations of rape victims at all district clinics and hospitals.
4. Reviewing the functioning of the Family Court and all legislation connected with Domestic Violence and violence against women to, among other things, increase the power of the Family Court to include the imposition of criminal sanctions for domestic abuse.
5 Passing legislation to criminalize sexual harassment and to make it illegal for a husband to rape his wife and amending existing legislation by removing the requirement for the victim to bring evidence to sustain a criminal charge against men who commit statutory rape
6 Making mandatory the reporting by all medical personnel of births to minors at hospitals and clinics or wheresoever that birth may take place.
7 Implementing the collection of data relative to domestic violence, and violence against women nationally including its dissemination to the public.
8 Instituting and enforcing a code of conduct within the public service at all levels that provides for protocol on reporting sexual offences including sexual harassment in the workplace. Respect for the women and girls in our society MUST be a part of how this government conducts itself. We must set the example.
9 Implementing the Social and Spiritual Redemption Charter to provide women and children with proactive opportunities at the community level.
10. Making API/GIS, public and informal education programs, and public social media programs available to NGOs and social stakeholders.
Isn’t it Time for a government that genuinely cares for you? #ndpnow
