World cup kicks up violence against women

(CNS):Disappointment at team and betting losses and excessive alcohol consumption during the World Cup tournament have created a recipe for disaster for spouses or partners of abusers. Across the world women are feeling the fallout of football frustration and Cayman is no different. Ania Milanowska-Sedgley, Executive Director of the Grand Cayman Crisis Centre, said that from the very start of the World Cup, there was a marked increase in the number of women seeking safe refuge at the Centre. “This is happening to such a degree that on several occasions the Centre has beeninundated,” she said.

Although the causes are not all directly related to the tournament, the Centre’s clients have reported an increase in the level of aggressive behaviour towards them since the start of the contest. The World Cup may have temporarily united the world in the spirit of the game but there appears to be a genuine link with World Cup fever and increased violence.

The anti-domesticviolence campaign in the UK “Lets Show Domestic Violence the Red Card” reveals a 25% increase in domestic violence since the start of the tournament. 

“It is really quite disturbing, and rather sad, that this increase in domestic violence quite clearly started when the World Cup kicked off. The 'Beautiful Game', which is such a great opportunity to unite families in their joint support of their team, does not seem quite so beautiful to these victims of domestic violence,” added Milanowska-Sedgley. 

“Domestic violence is an issue that we can all be involved in alleviating. One source has reported she was appalled to hear a gentlemen in the bar next to her apparently 'joking' that it was 'time to go home and beat the wife….because when I’m a loser, everyone’s a loser!' when his team didn’t make it through to the next round,” she said. “It is the responsibility of all of us to make sure that people know this is not funny and it is not acceptable.”

The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre is always open to women in need and will never turn anyone away. Employees of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre work tirelessly to provide help and support and confidentiality to victims and are reliant upon donations to carry out their essential work.

Meanwhile, the 100 Women in Hedge Funds (100WHF) inaugural Cayman gala, raised over US$26,000 for the Centre at an event in May attracting over 230 guests. The CICC was selected as the 2014 beneficiary as it provides services that fit this year’s global philanthropy theme of ‘women’s and family health’.

“The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre is an ideal partner for 100WHF,” said Philanthropy Committee Chair Christina Bodden, partner at Maples and Calder. “This is a perfect example of women helping women. The need to support victims of domestic violence and their children is unfortunately great and the Crisis Centre is instrumental in providing emergency shelter that enables women and children to take those first steps to a life free from violence.  We are pleased to be able to financially support them in their efforts and make a difference in this way.”

Milanowska-Sedgley said it was wonderful to see such an outpouring of support for the Crisis Centre. The Cayman 100WHF committee pledged to raise over US$35,000 for the Crisis Centre in 2014 and the inaugural gala brought in well over half the amount already. The 100WHF’s next fundraising event will be the Crisis Centre’s second annual speaker series, featuring Joshua Safran, a lawyer, documentary producer, writer and a childhood victim of domestic violence himself. 

Safran produced a documentary about his years of working to free a woman from prison who had killed her abusive husband. The event, which is scheduled for 11 September 2014, will feature a private screening of the documentary Crime After Crime followed by a discussion and book signing by Safran.

100WHF are looking for sponsors for the event so interested parties should contact the local organization via email cayman@100womeninhedgefunds.org