By: Shakara Trott/BIS
Dressed in vibrant orange, scores of residents, organisations and representatives from corporate Grand Bahama joined the Ministry of Social Services for its annual Gender-Based Violence Awareness Walk, held as part of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign aimed at ending gender-based violence.
The walk, December 5, 2025, began at 10:00am with an opening prayer at Sun Plaza on West Settlers Way.
Supporters carrying posters marched in solidarity, lifting their voices to advocate for survivors and to honor the lives of women and girls lost to domestic violence.
Chief Social Worker for Grand Bahama, Pauline Bowen-Forbes, addressed participants, urging the community not to overlook the seriousness of domestic violence in The Bahamas.
She recalled a recent event in the news weeks ago involving a pregnant mother and stressed the seriousness of domestic violence and underscored this year’s theme, ‘to unite against digital violence against women and young girls; cyberbullying.’
Bowen-Forbes, emphasized the importance of understanding digital harm, noting that cyberbullying, privacy invasion and the unauthorized sharing of personal information are criminal offenses. She also highlighted concerns surrounding human trafficking, reiterating the need to protect and respect women and girls.
She encouraged individuals experiencing domestic violence to seek support through the Department of Social Services.
“Family Services is located on the second floor of the National Insurance Building, where we provide counselling as it relates to domestic violence, we want persons to come upstairs if you need to speak to somebody. We’re there to hear you and be able to assist you in whichever way we can,” she said.
The walk concluded with a high-energy pep rally in the parking lot of the Department of Social Services. Several community groups and organizations participated, including Fallen Angels, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Grand Bahama Children’s Home, Department of Environmental Health, Grand Bahama Girls Soccer, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Ministry of Education, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and Bahamas Information Services.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign continues through December 10, 2025.
(BIS Photos/Jamika Culmer)
