THE FACILITY MARKS THE CULMINATION OF A REGIONAL INITIATIVE AIMED AT STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE WHILE PROMOTING GREATER PROTECTION
Survivors of gender-based violence in southern Saint Lucia will now have access to a more private, dignified and supportive environment following the official handover of a newly refurbished counselling and interview room at the Vieux Fort Police Station.
The facility, funded through the Government of France under the two-year STOP Gender-Based Violence Project, marks the culmination of a regional initiative aimed at strengthening institutional responses to gender-based violence while promoting greater protection and support for survivors.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Her Excellency Marie-Noelle Duris, Ambassador of the French Republic to Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean, said the project demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in addressing a global challenge.
"Gender-based violence is not an abstract issue. Nearly one in three women and girls worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence during her lifetime. This is a global challenge that requires action at every level. The counselling room we inaugurate today is a concrete result of our collective efforts to ensure that victims receive support, protection and dignity. Today, we celebrate more than the completion of a project, we celebrate the partnerships we have built, the capacities we have strengthened and the commitment that continues to grow," Ambassador Duris said.
Superintendent Curtis Roberts, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, described the new facility as much more than a physical structure.
"Today's ceremony marks more than just the handing over of a physical space. It represents hope, dignity and compassion, and a shared commitment to ensuring that those who have experienced trauma are treated with the care and respect they deserve. This room will provide a safe, private and supportive setting where victims can speak freely, receive professional assistance and begin the process of healing. It strengthens our ability to deliver victim-centred services and reinforces our commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of the most vulnerable among us," Roberts stated.
Minister for Gender Affairs, Hon. Emma Hippolyte, welcomed the addition of the new resource and commended the officers of the Vulnerable Persons Unit for their dedication despite years of operating with limited resources.
"More than closing a gap and meeting international standards, this room brings attention to the work that officers of the Vulnerable Persons Unit have been doing over the years with whatever little and inadequate resources they had. But I implore you to guard against the false hope that a law, a room or a particular resource is enough. Change must start from our attitudes and behaviours. If we embrace this Government's mantra of putting people first, then these resources and legislative provisions will only help us serve people better," Minister Hippolyte said.
The STOP Gender-Based Violence Project, implemented over the past two years, supported a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening Saint Lucia's response to gender-based violence. These included public awareness campaigns such as Know Your Rights, capacity-building for frontline institutions, support for civil society organizations and the financing of community-based projects designed to empower women and girls and provide safer spaces for vulnerable groups.
The new counselling room is expected to provide survivors of gender-based violence and sexual offences with a confidential, trauma-informed environment where they can receive support and begin the process of healing.
The initiative reflects the continued collaboration between the Government of Saint Lucia, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the French Embassy, civil society organizations and regional partners to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live a life free from violence.
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