“We see the issues that affect us directly and those around us, some of us have even been victims or survivors to some of these issues,” said Jahan Charles, vice president and co-founder of Victim Eyes, a youth-led organisation created to raise awareness of rape culture.
Jahan, who like several members of Victim Eyes is a student at UWI St Augustine, added, “We see that a change is needed and have taken it upon ourselves to work towards it, because who else will?”
During the 16 days of Activism, Victim Eyes collaborated with clubs such as Pride UWI, Catcalls of UWI, Sexual Assault Survivor Stand, and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network. The group gave out over 800 orange ribbons to raise awareness about GBV. They also amplified the message through social media and did research that will benefit projects this year related to catcalling and GBV, and GBV in the health care system.
The group was birthed in 2020 out of a small week project in collaboration with UN Women, Spotlight Initiative and Trinidad Youth Council, and currently has 14 active members.
“Afterwards, we reflected and decided that we were not done with the topic of rape culture and wanted to continue. In a short space of time, we produced our bystander project and collaborated for 16 days of Activism. We also ran our own recruitment and training exercises,” said Jahan, a first-year Communication Studies student.
Victim Eyes has big plans to work with NGOs, clubs and other groups this year, as well as activities of their own, both through social media and in public.
“We are trying to break the generational issue of rape culture,” said Jahan, “so that the next generation and our own do not have to face it, or at least not deal with it as much as we do now. We are the next generation of leaders and we don't have to wait for when we are older to lead a narrative when it can be done now.”
For more info on Victim Eyes, visit them on Instagram at victim_eyes, Facebook at Victim Eyes, or email them at thevictimeyesproject@gmail.com.
