The Virgin Islands faces a troubling increase in domestic and gender-based violence, underscored by recent data revealing a persistent pattern of abuse within the territory.
In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Minister of Health and Social Development, Hon. Vincent Wheatley, highlighted these trends in an effort to underscore the need for sustained intervention and support for victims.
During a recent session of the House of Assembly, Wheatley provided members with data from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force which revealed that there has been a steady rise in domestic violence cases, particularly impacting women in the territory.
In 2019, there were 40 cases involving male victims, including 9 serious and 31 minor assaults, while female victims reported 105 incidents, including 37 serious assaults and 66 minor assaults. By 2022, reports had climbed to 138 cases involving female victims, with 10 sexual offences, 25 serious assaults, and 103 minor assaults—a statistic comprising 71% of all domestic violence cases that year. Male victims reported 42 incidents in 2022, highlighting that the issue affects all genders.
Recent data up to May 2024 shows no significant decline. So far, 43 cases involving female victims, including 5 serious and 38 minor assaults, have been reported. For male victims, 35 cases of mostly minor assaults have been documented.
“These numbers reveal an urgent need for action,” Minister Wheatley stated, adding that domestic violence is not only a violation of human rights but a public health crisis impacting the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of victims. Wheatley expressed appreciation for the efforts of local support organizations, including the Family Support Network (FSN) and Women in Need (WINBVI), who tirelessly work to support survivors and educate the public on this pressing issue.
In response to these trends, the Ministry of Health and Social Development has committed to ongoing initiatives designed to foster healthier relationships and hold abusers accountable. The Partnership for Peace programme, managed in collaboration with the Office of Gender Affairs, has already helped 158 men adopt non-violent behaviors. Additionally, a Sexual Offences Bill is under development to provide a stronger legal framework for prosecuting offenders and protecting victims.
Minister Wheatley concluded with a call for the community’s collective involvement in ending domestic violence.
“By raising our voices together, we can strengthen the message that domestic violence will not be tolerated,” he affirmed.