New programme tackles domestic violence through behaviour change interventions
The Gender Affairs Unit is introducing a new programme to strengthen Anguilla’s response to domestic violence through targeted behaviour change… The post New programme tackles domestic violence through behaviour change interventions appeared first on Anguilla Focus | News.
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The Gender Affairs Unit is introducing a new programme to strengthen Anguilla’s response to domestic violence through targeted behaviour change work with perpetrators.
The Partnership for Peace (PfP) Violence Intervention Programme is a structured 16-week psycho-educational intervention.
It is designed to work with men who have used violence in intimate relationships, with a focus on accountability, behaviour change and safer outcomes for families.
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In a press release on 22 May, gender development coordinator Kemoloy Murphy said addressing domestic violence requires a comprehensive approach that combines prevention, protection and intervention.
She added that the programme equips professionals to work directly with men to “address harmful behaviours, support long-term change and reinforce accountability within our communities”.
Introduced to the Caribbean in 2005, PfP has since been implemented in six countries – Grenada is delivering its 36th cycle while the British Virgin Islands is undertaking its 25th cycle.
In Anguilla, the initiative is being introduced as a pilot programme funded in part by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice.
As part of the pilot, 20 professionals have completed a two-and-a-half-day Training of Trainers workshop.
They were equipped with the skills to facilitate the intervention, strengthen the pool of trained facilitators and clinical supervisors, and deepen understanding of the PfP curriculum and methodology.
The training was led by regional experts Tyrone Buckmire and Shakey Cornwall of the Legal Aid and Counselling Clinic in Grenada, who have extensive experience of the PfP model.
Sessions focused on effective group facilitation, understanding the root causes of gender-based violence, and applying gender-responsive, trauma-informed approaches when engaging participants.
In parallel, the Gender Affairs Unit hosted sensitisation sessions for key stakeholders, including members of the judiciary and other justice-sector partners.
These sessions provided an overview of the PfP programme and examined its role within a coordinated, multi-sectoral response to domestic violence.
Discussions also highlighted opportunities for collaboration, including referral pathways and the integration of perpetrator interventions into existing legal and social support systems.
The pilot reflects a phased approach to implementation.
Following the training, the Gender Affairs Unit will work closely with stakeholders to deliver an abridged cycle of the PfP programme later this year.
Upon completion of the pilot, the consultants will submit a further report, the findings of which will help inform Anguilla’s full-scale implementation of the PfP programme.
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