Breaking the silence and unmasking societal pressures were the central themes at the Sexual Abuse Forum held at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
The forum discussion tackled the cultural barriers that prevent survivors from coming forward, including the “hyper-sexualised” norms affecting young men and more.
Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Philip Alexander, emphasised the need to tackle harmful social influences. He specifically pointed to hypersexualisation, where people, especially young people, are reduced to their sexual appearance or image, while their character, abilities, and overall humanity are ignored.
“We have a hypersexualised society. We have to face that reality, and a lot of men, young men, are forced, believe it or not, to act in ways that contradict their own good nature to fit in with other men who are themselves confused and acting against their nature. So we need to unmask all of it.”
Clinical psychologist Dr. Varma Deyalsingh noted that fear-driven silence remains one of the greatest challenges confronting victims and survivors of sexual abuse. He added this is what makes safe and supportive spaces essential.
“Silence continues to be one of our greatest barriers. Cultural norms, stigma, fear of judgement and sometimes even victim blaming discourage disclosure. Too often survivors are asked to carry not just trauma but also society’s discomfort. This must change. Hearing begins when we create spaces where people feel safe to speak, safe to be believed, and safe to seek help without shame.”
While community responses and support for survivors have increased, Asiya Mohammed, the CEO of Conflict Women Limited, noted that significant obstacles still remain.
“We’re seeing a mushrooming of NGOs and civil society trying to do this work. We’re seeing more communities getting involved, we’re seeing more NGOs trying to respond in terms of the advocacy, but it’s been really, really challenging because of the gaps within governments.”
The experts concluded that ending sexual violence goes beyond advocacy and calls for meaningful cultural change must be accompanied by commitment from the government, key stakeholders, and advocates to address gaps in survivor support.