Good morning, everyone. 

October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, a time when we unite as a community to reflect, to act, and to recommit ourselves to ending domestic violence in all its forms. Domestic abuse is an issue that transcends gender, age, and background. It occurs behind closed doors, across neighbourhoods, and sometimes, tragically, in public. It affects families, friendships, workplaces, and most painfully, it affects our children. 

Imagine a child awoken from their sleep at night to hear fighting and screaming, not knowing whether their parent will make it out of that fight dead or alive. Imagine a child shouting "stop it, you’re hurting my mom” or “stop it you’re hurting my dad. Their request is they want it all to just go away, all to stop! Why? Because it really does hurt, when hurtful behavior cannot be controlled or calmed, it teaches children and people how to act and how to behave and this is the vicious cycle of destruction.  

We do know behaviors of domestic abuse can be changed, can be reversed, and can be stopped. This is the impact we want! This is the story of recovery we want for our community. We must ensure that no child grows up  believing that this cycle is normal.   

Since 2021, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors has prioritised supporting victims and survivors through meaningful action. For 2025/26 financial year, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors has allocated $150,000 for Centre Against Abuse and $75,000 for HOME to support the Transformational Living Centre programme for mothers and children, previously provided through the Women’s Resource Centre, providing essential services to those impacted by domestic abuse. These funds have helped to ensure that assistance is available when and where it is needed most.

We also recognise the need for immediate financial relief for victims escaping abusive situations. Through The Department of Financial Assistance, the ShortTerm Relief Benefit Act 2024 was legislated to provide temporary support to individuals and families to secure safety and stability while longer-term solutions are arranged. Although this allowance is being reviewed for improvement, it continues to play a vital role in helping domestic abuse survivors rebuild their lives. 

But our work does not stop at responding to harm after it occurs. We must also focus on prevention and rehabilitation. That is why the Ministry has committed to the introduction of Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Services, designed to provide intervention and treatment to individuals who have used violence or control within intimate relationships. 

In 2022, SafeLives UK, a charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, conducted a comprehensive review of Bermuda’s domestic abuse landscape using a public health approach. Their findings made clear that, to truly break the cycle of violence, our response must address not only the needs of victims but also the behaviours of perpetrators. 

Following those recommendations, we issued a Request for Information last year, and through the collaborative work of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference, or MARAC, two service providers, Arius Solutions and MASC, were selected to participate in delivering these vital programmes. 

The new initiative, which will launch in autumn 2025, will begin with Arius Solutions offering its Abusive Perpetrators Evolving to Change Programme. This twenty-six week intervention combines education, accountability, and behavioural therapy to promote real, sustained change. By addressing the root causes of abusive behaviour, we can foster rehabilitation, support families, and ultimately, create safer homes and communities. 

The Ministry has allocated $200,000 for the first year of implementation, ensuring that these services are accessible, monitored, and evaluated through clear performance indicators. This investment represents not only a financial commitment but also a moral one…to hold offenders accountable while offering them a pathway towards change. 

Alongside these developments, the MARAC Committee has worked diligently to frame Bermuda’s Five-Year Domestic Abuse Strategic Plan. This plan, grounded in the recommendations from SafeLives, represents a truly national effort involving government agencies, community organisations, and advocacy partners such as the Centre Against Abuse, the Women’s Resource Centre, and One Love. 

The plan is structured around six priorities: 

1. Multi-agency collaboration and governance
2. Risk assessment and early intervention
3. Support services for survivors
4. Accountability and rehabilitation for perpetrators
5. Awareness, education, and community engagement
6. Data collection and monitoring 

In the coming weeks, we will share a draft Strategic Plan through the Government’s Citizen Forum website for consultation. We encourage members of the public and stakeholders alike to share their perspectives, ensuring the plan reflects the needs and voices of citizens of Bermuda. 

From the beginning, our approach has been guided by collaboration…between ministries, agencies, and community partners. Domestic abuse is not a single-department issue; it is a whole-of-society challenge that demands shared responsibility and coordinated action. 

As we mark Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, I wish to acknowledge the courage of survivors, the dedication of service providers, and the commitment of our partners. Together, we are building a system that not only responds to violence but works to prevent it…one that fosters healing, accountability, and hope. 

Let us continue to stand together…to speak out, to support, and to strengthen the fabric of our community…until domestic abuse has no place in Bermuda. 

Thank you.