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Advocacy group says strategic thinking needed to tackle violence

Loop News

July 19, 2022 5:50 PM ET

3 mins read

The No 9-Day Wonder women’s movement (N9DW) — a member of the Advocate Network — is calling on all stakeholders to think strategically to implement long-term, solution-oriented practices to stem violence in Jamaica.

“We need to begin in the schools, from the basic level, to teach conflict resolution and mediation principles. Let us model and emphasise positive character-building that is community-centred,” said N9DW member Caroline Dyche.

She called on stakeholders to look at countries that have a low murder/violence rate and adopt some of their best practices.

“Let us learn about and be more sensitive to mental illness and stresses and not ignore them. Let’s work to resolve disagreement and conflict in order to protect ourselves and others,” said Dyche, whose group was formed by the Advocates Network to continue advocacy — mainly for legislative reform and needed behavioural changes — and against domestic violence and gender-based violence.

The N9DW bemoans the murders, rape and abuse of women and girls, which, it laments, only draw the anger of members of the society temporarily.

Meanwhile, Nora Blake, the convener of Advocates Network — an unincorporated, non-partisan alliance of individuals and organisations advocating for human rights and good governance to improve the socio-economic conditions of Jamaicans — said these killings must no longer be treated as nine-day wonder.

The group highlighted the murders of Kemisha Wright, and her three young daughters and toddler son on June 21 in Chapleton, Clarendon, allegedly by a family member as a heinous crime that fell victim to the nine-day wonder syndrome.

The No 9-Day Wonder movement pledged, ahead of the bodies being laid to rest on Sunday, July 31, to pray for the healing of the people of New Road Community where this gruesome crime occurred and appealed to all Jamaicans, who continue to witness to escalating vicious crimes, to come together to stop this surging wave of violence. 

Dyche challenged society to reignite community responsibility and “being each other’s keepers, seeking help for each other even when we can’t be of help ourselves”.

She added: “Let us have community psychosocial practitioners to help our communities cope and heal from our collective trauma.”