The 2011 statistics released by the Family Support Network (FSN).

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

The 2011 statistics released by the Family Support Network (FSN).

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

The Family Support Network (FSN) in its 2011 annual report disclosed that Dominican Republic (DR) women residing in the BVI are mostly victims of abuse.

According to the non-governmental organization report to the House of Assembly, last year the organization served a number of victims with 29 percent being nationals of DR, 13 percent BVIslanders, 20 percent other Caribbean countries, 9 percent USA and USVI, and other countries such as Guyana, Australia, UK and Eastern Europe making up the statistics.

Further, the report stated that the majority of the abusers were men from the BVI.

According to the report, a total of 72 clients were served during last year, which comprised of 49 new clients and 23 returning clients. It stated that 7 were non-domestic violence [poverty related] and 56 cases of intimate partner abuse, with the majority of women being between the ages of 20 and 45.

The report stated that 26 women were physically abused; 34 emotionally/psychologically/verbally; 13 financially; and 2 sexually.

78 percent of the victims left their abusers and 22 percent stayed with their abusers. According to the report, the primary reasons victims stayed with their abusers were due to fear, financial dependency and survival.

The report further stated that children were living in 75 percent of the abusive households; 7 clients were placed in emergency protective shelter; 9 children and 8 adults received counseling services; 14 protection orders were done, 20 child maintenance orders and 2 occupants orders.

According to the FSN report, of the cases last year, there were four male clients who were physically, verbally/emotionally/psychologically abused and were also threatened by their female partners that they would not see their children.

Meanwhile, the report outlined the activities that were undertaken by the organization in 2011, which included the single mother sponsorship programme and other donations which were geared towards individual needs of clients and funded by sponsorship of local corporations, monetary donations and physical donations.

The organization also provided counseling where children and victims of domestic violence received individual therapy.

The report stated that FSN also conducted a restructuring with new office protocols for volunteers; filing system; new brochures and posters placed in Government agencies; refurbished office space; and changed their focus and narrowed in to allow staff to be more efficient when providing services.

FSN is a non-Government organization whose primary aim is to aid individuals, couples and families affected by relationships that are unhealthy, including but not limited to domestic violence, or any form of abuse in intimate partner relationships.

According to the organization, the mission of FSN is to strengthen individuals, couples and families through education that leads to prevention, support to those in crisis and rehabilitation through counseling and networking to those who desire to change.

The 24 hour help line is 499-0999; FSN office 494-7622; or you can email them at familysn1@yahoo.com.