JERSEY’S gender-based-violence taskforce has welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision to accept all 58 of its recommendations to government.
However, Kate Wright, who leads the group, said that “success, of course, now depends on real action”.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham made the announcement at an International Women’s Day breakfast event on Friday, committing publicly for the first time to the report’s recommendations, which were published in November and included developing a stalking offence, strengthening legislation around online abuse and sexual harassment – as well as improving the way data is collected on violence against women and girls.
In the same speech, he said that he would “revisit” the Island’s new Domestic Abuse Law.
Deputy Farnham said: “Domestic abuse is an insidious problem which must be faced collectively, and government clearly has a significant role in that.
“The Home Affairs Minister and I both feel that this law could go much further and that it should contain provisions for the police and courts to make emergency barring orders to remove domestic abusers from the homes of their victims while arrangements can be made to ensure victims’ safety.
“I hope this will help reverse the shocking unfairness when a victim, possibly with children, is forced to escape their own home while the perpetrator will remain there undisturbed.”
Deputy Farnham added that implementing the recommendations would be “a key priority” for his newly-formed government and form part of its Common Strategy Policy, which is due to be brought before the States Assembly later this month.
“We will accept the recommendations that are directed to the government and encourage other organisations to do the same. A comprehensive response will be published by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs before the end of this month and this will include timelines,” he said.
He continued: “We have further committed to publishing an annual report on the progress made to implement the taskforce recommendations alongside the annual action plan.”
Following the announcement, Mrs Wright said: “Success of course now depends on real action, but it cannot be understated just what a significant opportunity this decision creates for Jersey, nor the incredibly powerful message it sends to victim-survivors and all women and girls in Jersey.
“It is their voices and stories that have made this happen. They have been heard, we care, and change is coming.
“The recommendations, taken together, are designed to change the culture in Jersey that enables violence against women and girls to take place: gender inequality and misogyny, the ‘male biased, untouchable’ system that our independent researchers observed.
“The recommendations – providing they are now supported by a meaningful plan – will change Jersey for the better. The voices and the bravery of the women and young people, and in the report, and the incredible professionals who contributed, will have a lasting legacy for all women and girls.”
The taskforce – made up of 20 local professionals working in the subject area – found that “gaps” in Jersey’s legislation were “undermining the ability of the criminal justice system to protect victim-survivors or effectively manage perpetrators”.
It was established in 2022, when the Constable of St Martin, Karen Shenton-Stone, lodged a successful amendment to the Government Plan to set aside £200,000 to create the taskforce.
