Bonaire – The Kadera Foundation for Domestic Violence and the Directorate of Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN) of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport are collaborating. They have signed an agreement to use the signal card for domestic violence and child abuse in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Signing
In early April, Jeroen Traas, director of Kadera, and Jantine Homan, manager of the social domain of ZJCN, signed the agreement. The signal card will be available later this year in four languages: Papiamentu, English, Spanish, and Dutch. People can view the card online as well as use it on paper.
Early Signals are Important
Domestic violence and child abuse are often recognized too late. However, early intervention can prevent a lot of suffering. In the Netherlands, they have been working with the signal card from Kadera for some time: www.signalenkaart.nl. The card shows which signals may indicate violence, both among victims, children, and perpetrators. The information is categorized by age and themes, such as human trafficking and financial exploitation. Professionals and others can use the card to recognize abuse more quickly and act better according to the protection code for domestic violence and child abuse.
“We are proud of this next step in the collaboration between Kadera and the Caribbean Netherlands,” said Jeroen Traas. “This signal card is a powerful tool to identify domestic violence earlier, but it also requires awareness and training. It is important that professionals are aware of their own biases and blind spots when recognizing violence.”
A Tool, Not Evidence
Recognizing domestic violence and child abuse is difficult and requires a broad perspective. The signal card provides possible indications, but listening carefully to victims, children, perpetrators, and those involved remains necessary. The main goal is that all parties involved receive help on time and that families become safer.