A new social intervention by the Police Service’s Victim and Witness Support Unit (VWSU) is helping teen survivors of sexual assault, and their families, share their experiences and reclaim their lives after the traumatic experience.
Launched in the Eastern Policing Division, the VWSU says it will conduct more sessions throughout the 10 policing divisions, where necessary.
From March 25-28, the VWSU in the Eastern Division hosted a group of 11 teenage female victims/survivors of sexual assault at the Sangre Grande Civic Centre. The young women were provided with a safe and supportive environment to recount their experiences and to learn how to develop appropriate coping skills, as they continued to heal from their trauma.
A release from the Police Service reports that participants at the survivors’ session felt the initiative was beneficial, especially as they had the opportunity to interact with Daniella Xavier, a former client of the VWSU who shared her story and her walk towards healing.
“This has been a good experience, we needed this, and we need safe spaces like these,” the session’s participants stated.
Another participant shared: “I feel like I can cope better and have a better understanding of what I am experiencing.”
The parents of the teens had their own session on April 2, 2024, also at the Sangre Grande Civic Centre.
“Parents shared that they observed positive changes after the group sessions were held with their children,” the TTPS release reports.
“One parent also indicated that her teenager had since been active on a WhatsApp chat created by the girls. Another teen enrolled in a community skills training class to help her develop a new and marketable skill,” it added.
The sessions were conducted by Team Lead Deborah Lee Riviears, with Victim and Witness Support Officers Jemma Taylor-Alexander, Rickel Dixon, Bianca Augustus, Jordan Noreiga and Tia Marie Bacchus, serving as the intervention facilitators.
External support was provided by Shelley-Ann Hart (Director), and Amilcar Sanatan (Deputy Director), Gender and Child Affairs Division in the Office of the Prime Minister.