By Tonia Gooding. President of Communities Alive.
6 January 2025. (Originally published in the Trinidad Guardian)
It is with a heavy heart that one of the first articles I read in the newspaper for the new year of 2025 was suggesting that the solution to violent crime was increased abortion.
Firstly, using only one research study that focused on one possible reason for such a pervasive problem worldwide seems a bit narrow from a scientific perspective. Most research studies will highlight many different possibilities and then governments should then prioritize how to address these issues.
Secondly, it seems almost ironical to say that violence from the womb, can be the solution to violent practices in society. Or even an interpretation that a friend gave me, the author is saying – it is better that these people committing the violent crimes, would never have been born – to me, that is quite a tragic perspective of the value of a human life.
Every human life matters, from the womb to the tomb, saving life means saving ALL lives.
If we are looking to address situations, especially with regard to our State of Emergency, perhaps we should look at solutions that has the focus on regarding the dignity of every human being. One such solution that my organization came across is called Project Alcatraz that originated in Venezuela https://fundacionsantateresa.org/en/proyecto-alcatraz/ This program was started by Alberto Vollmer, primarily targeted at gang members.
In many cases young men join gangs to get the appreciation, security and validation that they may be lacking from their own environment. The program uses the concept of Restorative Justice, coupled with the playing of rugby and education in values to reintegrate into society, in addition to preventive methods related to the playing of sport to create healthy habits and build a positive sense of belonging to a team.
Quoting the mother of the founder “This gang thing is directly connected to abandonment by the fathers. They need purpose and belonging and those are supplied by the father…..or the gang leader. I talk to these young men a lot, and so many have said to me “I have no father…..Alberto is my father, really”…., Alberto gives them the RULES, CORRECTION, expect the best of them, and assure dependable LOVE, no matter what. And so they see him as a father. Amazing.”
Just as there may be many reasons for violent crime, there may be many possible solutions. We have suggested one possibility here which addresses a key problem all over the world – absent fathers. Perhaps the author of the previous article, if he probed a bit further may have asked the right question – the unfortunate women who end up in situations that the thought of abortion may arise, in many cases think they have no option, and feel all alone and unsupported, in these cases – where are the responsible men?