Empowered for Self-Defense

Brazilian-born Jiu Jitsu Grand Master, Rorion Gracie, once said, “Self defense is not just a set of techniques, it's a state of mind that begins with the belief that you are worth defending.”   

On Sunday April 3, 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) celebrated the third edition of the Amethyst Security Training Academy, (ASMA), Personal and Community Safety Project- StrongHer, SafeHer, TogetHer at a graduation ceremony for participants at the Arima West Government Primary School.  

Over the course of two months, a total of 25 Venezuelan women and 30 local women, together with eight Venezuelan children and seven local children gathered weekly to learn self-defense techniques to build their confidence, consciousness, and assertiveness as it relates to their personal safety. 

The initial acceptance of this innovative project proposal was guided by a number of factors including the rise of gender-based violence in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the results of the IOM’s 2022 Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) which revealed that Gender Based Violence (GBV), and xenophobia were key challenges faced by migrants. 

Ms. Jewel Ali, Head of Office for IOM Port of Spain, said “Because of this compelling evidence, IOM Port of Spain identified the need to empower women and transform the social structures and relationships that make violence against them possible. Further, tofoster integration among Venezuelan migrants and host communities, and in this case female Venezuelans, to enable their effective participation and leadership in peaceful coexistence and advocacy efforts, the promotion of sports and cultural activities to reinforce social integration, the development of leadership skills for women, it was felt that this empowerment-based self-defense training was fitting.”  

“I want to endorse the “StrongHer, SafeHer, togetHer” project as an empowerment-based self-defense training course, that is important to empower women, with the skills to defend yourself in the event of an assault against you.” Honourable Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Minister of Planning and Development and Member of Parliament for Arima said. 

The Honourable Minister further went on to say that “What stood out to me was the integration of cultures through language, where I saw everyone learning a phrase or two in Spanish during the session. I was further touched and elated that the program featured hearing impaired participants, ensuring that they were included in learning to defend themselves.” 

Funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy, Ms. Valerie Laboy, noted that “this training included simple but effective verbal and physical self-defense techniques, assertiveness skills and de-escalation strategies, environmental and perpetrator warning signs, and the range of available options for prevention and self-defense. These activities were all aimed at reducing the risk of violence against women, increasing their self-efficacy and self-confidence, and improving their ability to identify risky situations.  

Through the promotion of sporting and cultural activities to reinforce social integration and develop leadership skills for women, IOM Port of Spain remains committed to fostering integration among migrants and host communities.