Dear Editor,
The women's branch of the Progressive Liberal Party wishes to lend its voice to recent events of human interest, criminal conduct, our apparent inhumanity and the collective response to these issues of national import.
We refer to the recent but unfortunate events of death by violence and the criminal abandonment of an unwanted baby as reported in the news of record and on social media. These events should sensitize us all to realize that we need to take a determined effort to educate our women and the public at large as education in its many forms will always be the key to unlocking the viability of our future as a free, modern democratic state with a civil society.
In today's society we are quick to judge situations and circumstances we know nothing about. We tend to evaluate them at face value without realizing the need for a deeper look to understand the root cause and causal factors that drove the event.
Many of our young and older women are made to endure unimaginable circumstances simply because of the environment they are raised in, lack of knowledge or just plain fear of ridicule and embarrassment.
Oftentimes our communities are quite aware of troubling situations that exist but choose not to speak up because it doesn't involve them or the protection of the so called "family's secret" is more important than the victim's rights.
We have become insensitive to the needs of many that are hurting and mute to the situations that should be immediately addressed.
Gone are the days when we should keep up the tradition of being a "hush society".
We must collectively decide to stand against and address the ills that plague us daily.
Women and children should be informed of the unalienable rights available to them whether the case is domestic violence, rape, incest, molestation, unplanned pregnancies, adoption options, postpartum and depression.
There needs to be more focused attention devoted to informing of the many avenues and options available to our vulnerable brothers and sisters when unfortunate circumstances like the above rear their ugly heads in our society.
The public's expressed feelings of outrage, anger, disappointment, empathy and sympathy are all understandable, and in some cases justified, but should encourage us all to assist our communities in whichever way we can to ensure the building of a better Bahamas that we all can be proud to live in.
- PLP Women's Branch
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