WOW Condemn Acts of Violence Against Women and Call for Universal Respect of Their Rights

United Workers Party 8th March, 2021

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The Women of the United Workers Party (WOW) strongly condemn the physical assault and subsequent unlawful arrest and detention of Ms. Loretta Julien by police on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Ms. Julian was among other patriotic women and men gathered near the Dominica’s Police Headquarters standing in solidarity with two young men in police custody. This incident of brutality constituted a total disregard for the constitutional respect for human life. Women ought to be valued and not subjected to this level of violence.

We are gravely concerned that the police respond to peaceful protests in Dominica with acts of force, resulting in the unlawful detention of protesters and disruption of peaceful demonstrations. Thursday, March 4, was not an isolated incident. We recall similar incidences that took place in February and May 2017, and on the morning of 5^th December 2019, where police officers employed excessive force. In April 2020, the United Nations Human Watch Committee under the International Covenant and Civil and Political Rights referenced Dominica in a report that states in part, “it is concerned about allegations of excessive force against demonstrators in Dominica.”

In Article 2 of the Code of Conduct for law enforcement officials adopted by the UN general Assembly- states that “In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons. The resolution further states, “No law enforcement official may inflict, instigate or tolerate any acts of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment…”

On March 8, 2021, women all over the world will be celebrating International Women’s Day under the theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”. We the women in leadership challenge all manner of injustices and call all women to action, to create awareness about women’s rights, women’s safety and the condemnation of all forms of harassment and violence. We are committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Goals 2030 Agenda, where Goal #5 speaks to “achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls”.

The Women of the United Workers Party call on the Ministers responsible for National Security, Gender Affairs, and Children at Risk to:

Issue a statement condemning the acts of brutality meted out to Loretta Julian by officers of the Dominica Police Force
Put an end to the ongoing acts of police brutality against peaceful protesters (mainly women) and allowing protesters to continue the lawful exercise of their rights to peaceful protests
Conduct impartial, independent and transparent investigations into acts of police brutality and hold the responsible officers accountable through disciplinary actions or criminal prosecutions
Implement reform of the policing systems and standards to prevent these recurring acts of police brutality in Dominica

We wish all women and girls in Dominica and across the world a Happy International Women’s Day 2021, and like Amy Tenney we say “The world needs strong women who will lift and build others. Who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce; women of indomitable will.”