BVI Holds First Digital Violence Roundtable
The Acting Governor and the Office of Gender Affairs convened the Virgin Islands’ first roundtable on ending digital violence against women and girls at Government House on 9 December 2025. Policymakers, law enforcement and gender advocates discussed local trends, legal gaps and committed to regular meetings, legislative reviews and broader community engagement to better prevent and respond to online abuse.
The Acting Governor of the Virgin Islands, His Excellency David D. Archer Jr., in partnership with the Office of Gender Affairs, hosted the territory’s first roundtable on ending digital violence against women and girls at Government House on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. The meeting, held during the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign, brought together government officials, police and gender-equality advocates to confront the growing threat posed by technology-enabled abuse.
Digital violence — including cyberstalking, harassment, image-based exploitation and online grooming — is increasingly crossing borders and creating new harms for women and girls. Organisers said the discussion aimed to match the speed of those harms with coordinated legal, educational and community responses tailored to the Virgin Islands.
The Acting Governor opened the roundtable by urging a whole-of-society response. "Digital violence is not just a legal issue — it is a societal challenge that demands a united response," he said, adding that gender equality is essential to security and prosperity in the BVI. Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Mrs.
Sheniah Armstrong-Jones, described digital violence as a public-health and social-protection concern with real consequences for mental health, physical safety and family stability. "Through stronger coordination, public education, survivor-centred services and modernised policy responses, we are committed to ensuring that our digital spaces are just as safe as our physical ones," she said.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Honourable Corine N. George-Massicote, delivered the keynote address as a vocal advocate for action. Detective Inspector Kendolph Bobb, Head of the Family and Juvenile Unit at the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, outlined the current legal framework, including the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, 2019 amendments, and noted enforcement challenges.
Local cases referenced at the meeting included child sexual exploitation and online grooming, possession of sexual-exploitation material, cyber threats, online blackmail and cyberbullying — the latter described as the most common type observed. Attendees included key stakeholders from government and civil society: Acting Governor David D.
Sheniah Armstrong-Jones Detective Inspector Kendolph Bobb Dr. Nikki Rubaine-Connell (Zonta Club of Tortola) Ms. Rochelle Smith (Zonta Club of Tortola) Ms. Andrea Blumire (Governor’s Office) Participants agreed on three immediate actions: hold quarterly follow-up meetings to monitor progress and build operational links; review existing legislation against reporting data to identify gaps; and broaden engagement with schools, the college, faith groups, health services, non-profits and private-sector partners to create a community-wide prevention and response network.
Organisers said the roundtable marks an initial step toward stronger coordination and that future meetings will aim to turn commitments into clear, survivor-centred policies and public education campaigns. Residents concerned about online abuse are encouraged to report incidents to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and to seek support from local health and social services.
Primary source: BVI Government