The project successfully facilitated the training of 50 individuals, ultimately named Intimate Partner Violence Prevention and Protection Ambassadors (IPVPPAs). Trainees represented service providers from the Ministry of Health and Wellness sites in three of the four health regions, the Victims Services Division of the Ministry of Justice, and Civil Society Organisations. The training represented a collaboration between the Victims Services Division and the Jamaica Family Planning Association.
The four (4) day training workshop on ‘Intimate Partner Violence & the Use and Administration of the Intimate Partner Risk Assessment Tool’. Feedback from the participants was tremendously positive and both the Jamaica Family Planning Association and the Victim Support Division continue to receive thanks and appreciation post -training.
Development and dissemination of an ‘Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment Monitoring Tool’ to all of participants in the 4-day training. Each CSO completes and submits the monitoring report to the JFPA.
Through a 5-month social media campaign launched on Facebook and Instagram, JFPA increased awareness about Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among more than 20,000 persons including adolescents – the primary audience.
The project also developed 2 training videos.
The project had impact beyond the training of IPVPPAs. One IPVPPA trained by the project was affiliated with the Larry Chung Foundation. The Larry Chung Foundation’s mission is to provide access to safe shelter, food, psychosocial support and training for homeless and displaced trans and gay identified persons, enabling them to live fulfilling and productive lives and reintegrating them back into society.
In an effort to prepare members to advocate for themselves, they are educated and made aware of IPV and GBV within the LGBTQ community. A one-day workshop was held in March 2022, by the Larry Chang Foundation along with The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) and was facilitated by Jamaica Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Twelve persons from the Larry Chung Foundation programme attended the training. The training focused on Gender-Based Violence/Intimate Partner Violence, Mental health issues, Job readiness and accessing the various social services in Jamaica.
Throughout the year, both the Larry Chung Foundation and J-Flag will host a number of training sessions on the laws of Jamaica, shelters for the LGBTQ community and how to access them, safety and protection, conflict resolution and problem solving, job readiness, skills training and provides counselling and other services, where necessary.
However, not a great deal of attention or focus is placed on IPV, even though members are aware that it is a huge problem within their community.
The Case Worker admitted that” government agencies and other social bodies in Jamaica need to include the LGBTQ community in their discussions, around Intimate Partner Violence” .