The mission and mandate of Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia is to speak out against domestic violence, rape, and the physical abuse of women and minors.

Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony met with a contingent from the women’s rights group Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia (RYVSL), in commemoration of International Women’s Day (March 8).

RYVSL Director Petra Jeffrey-Nelson, and Secretary Catherine Sealys presented the Prime Minister with a declaration advocating for an improvement in the mechanisms used to protect women and children.

The Prime Minister welcomed the delegation, thanked RYVSL for its work, and encouraged he group to continue with its interventions at the community and national level.

He also noted that there is more work to be done.

"As a nation we have come a long way in the treatment of our women and the place that our women enjoy in society. We have had many notable Saint Lucian women in the legislature, judiciary, and serving at the highest level in well-respected international organizations," Dr. Anthony said.

"It is fitting and, in fact, essential that we should seek to ensure an environment in which all of our citizens can flourish. This is a government that does not shy away from responsibility, and we accept the responsibility to protect and advance the cause of all Saint Lucians, without reservation.

He continued: "In that regard, I thank Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia for sharing their concerns. A number of those issues – reinforcement of our family law, and protection for victims of sexual assault, for instance – resonate with ordinary Saint Lucians. They are at the forefront of my mind as well. We must put better mechanisms in place. But we must also engage our community in dialogue. We must initiate frank, open communication with our women, and our men to better understand how best to proceed, particularly when it comes to drafting and enacting sensitive social legislation.”

The mission and mandate of RYVSL is to speak out against domestic violence, rape, physical and sexual abuse of women and minors and to advocate for change in the system of governance specifically in the social, judicial and public systems that affect women and children.