Physical Abuse Luncheon

REMARKS OF                                
U.S. CONSUL GENERAL GREGORY W. SLAYTON
at the Physical Abuse Centre Annual Luncheon
April 18, 2008

• Good afternoon and welcome all to the Physical Abuse Centre’s annual meeting. Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. I am honored to be here with Governor Sir Richard Gozney and Minister of Social Rehabilitation, Mr. Dale Butler.
• Physical abuse is a difficult issue for families and communities to come to terms with, but Bermuda’s Physical Abuse Centre has the tools to protect and support those for whom abuse is all too real.  
• Over its 29 year lifespan, the Centre has aided thousands of abused women and children.
• It is estimated that only 30% of abuse is reported, which means that it is more widespread than we can know.
• Statistics reveal that for the most part, it is women and children who suffer the brunt of abuse. 
  o   About 95% of the victims of domestic violence are women. 
  o   Approximately 70% of men who batter their partners abuse their children.
  o   More than 50% of battered women stay with their batterer because they do not feel they can support themselves and their children alone.
• These figures tell an ugly and very painful story. They demonstrate that abuse exists; it is real. Its consequences are physically and psychologically painful to the individuals involved and destructive to the family unit, which is the basic building block of any community. 
• It is said that a community is only as strong as its weakest members. That is why no society can afford to neglect the victims of abuse.  That is why the work of the Physical Abuse Centre is so important.  That is why we must support the Centre in every way we can.
• We owe a debt of gratitude to the founders and the volunteers of the Physical Abuse Centre.  I especially want to recognize Mrs. Audrey Brackstone who was instrumental in the development of the Centre.  Audrey has a long history of giving her time freely for good causes.  It is people like her who get things done.  Thank you, Audrey.
• And thanks to all who give of their time to help others.