Iho Doga – By Jeressa Jeremy
Iho Doga Spearhead March
Integrated Health Outreach (IHO), in collaboration with the Directorate of Gender Affairs (DOGA), held a national gender-based violence walk Saturday to raise funds and awareness for victims of domestic abuse.
Held ahead of International Women’s Day, the event focused on the urgent need for a dedicated women’s shelter in Antigua and Barbuda, with participants emphasizing that a physical sanctuary is essential for those in crisis.
The turnout for the event was strong, with various organized groups and individuals alike showing up to support the cause.
When prompted as to why they chose to spend their Saturday afternoon at the march instead of anything else, the responses from participants were centered on advocacy and visibility:
“The more that we walk, we bring awareness to the fact that there are women who are still in abusive relationships and without the attention, it sometimes goes unaddressed,” one participant explained. “People need to know that we care about them, especially if they’re in that situation and they don’t have to remain there. They can always move, they can have a shoulder to lean on.”
Another marcher highlighted that the effort is finally seeing tangible progress. “As the t-shirts say, a woman’s shelter is a must and I’m so glad that after all these years, we finally have land in place that we can build a shelter that caters to persons that are in need. It’s important to show that we care and by turning up today, that’s just one way that we’re doing so.”
The event also saw participation from the National Youth Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda.
One 18-year-old member shared her decision to join the cause: “I would consider myself a women and girls activist and I just decided to come out here and support the women that have been through violence. It’s important for us as young people to let others know that the little that you do can matter and a simple walk matters.”
All contributions from the event are slated for the construction of the new shelter and ongoing support efforts for those affected by gender-based violence.
