Braille Copies of Gender-Based Violence Action Plan Unveiled by Minister Webster-Roy
๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ-๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐
Visually-impaired citizens in Trinidad and Tobago are now better equipped to stay informed and protected, thanks to a significant initiative led by the Office of the Prime Minister - Gender and Child Affairs Division and UNFPA. On July 25th, 2024, during a ceremony at the Parliamentโs Cabildo Building, Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy unveiled Braille copies of the National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP) on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence (2023-2027).
This initiative ensures that critical information reaches everyone, demonstrating the government's commitment to inclusivity and equal access to essential resources. Minister Webster-Roy highlighted the significance of ensuring that the visually impaired community has access to the NSAP, which covers critical areas such as prevention, protection, prosecution, punishment, and the effective provision of redress for victims and survivors of gender-based and sexual violence.
"An effective NSAP means that critical information on policies and services is in the hands of citizens with visual impairments," she stated.
The NSAP is meticulously organized around key pillars including prevention, protection, prosecution, punishment, and the provision of redress. It is designed to serve diverse populations, including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, with specialized services and localized programming.
Minister Webster-Roy extended her gratitude to the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), for its continuous support in capacity building, research, and financial and technical assistance.
Ms. Tisa Grant, Liaison Officer, Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago Liaison Office, UNFPA, reaffirmed the UNFPA's commitment to collaboration, emphasising, "Together, we can deliver a world free from violence, leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind."
Mr. Kenneth Surratt, Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association (TTBWA), and Mr. Bhawani Persad, First Vice President of Persons Associated with Visual Impairment (PAVI), received the Braille NSAP copies, acknowledging the government's efforts to ensure accessibility.
Minister Webster-Roy further encouraged all citizens to be more caring towards women, children, and differently-abled individuals, urging a collective effort to combat gender-based and sexual violence and reiterated the ministry's commitment to coordinating with stakeholders, policymakers, and the citizenry to lead concerted efforts, supported by necessary human and financial resources, towards ending GBV & SV.
The handover of Braille copies of the NSAP GBV & SV marks a significant step towards inclusivity and accessibility in Trinidad and Tobagoโs efforts to combat gender-based and sexual violence. Minister Webster-Roy's initiative underscores the importance of ensuring that all citizens, including those with visual impairments, have access to critical information and services.