By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Lucia is issuing a challenge to individuals, groups and the government to ensure that the entire population is working towards developing a culture of zero violence, particularly gender-based violence.

“At the individual level, we must not commit or condone any acts of violence against women and children,” said St Lucia’s Health and Gender Relations Minister Alvina Reynolds.

“At the state level, we must continue to employ measures that will ensure that all citizens are safe at all times, and priority must be given to allocating the resources needed to provide adequate responses to victims as well as perpetrators.”

Reynolds said she believed one way to reduce incidents of domestic violence is to educate young people.

“Education, both formal and informal, is one of the strongest ways to improve gender equality,” she said. “It is fundamental to sustainable development and growth because learning and developing skills enable all people to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.”