Virgin Islands Holds First Ever Roundtable on
The Acting Governor, David D. Archer Jr., in collaboration with the Office of Gender Affairs, hosted the territory’s first roundtable on digital violence at Government House on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. Participants — including lawmakers, police, health officials and civil-society representatives — agreed on quarterly meetings, a legislative review and broader community engagement to tackle rising online abuse, a move organisers said ties into this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign.
The Acting Governor of the Virgin Islands, His Excellency David D. Archer Jr., in partnership with the Office of Gender Affairs, convened the territory’s first roundtable focused on ending digital violence against women and girls at Government House on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, organisers said (BVI Government).
The event brought together policymakers, law enforcement, health and social development officials and representatives from gender-equality organisations to examine how digital technologies are being used to amplify misogyny and enable new forms of abuse — including cyberstalking, harassment, online grooming, image-based exploitation, online blackmail and cyberbullying.
Guavaberry reported the roundtable was held as part of wider activity linked to this year’s 16 Days of Activism, a global campaign led by UN Women to end violence against women and girls. Speakers included the Acting Governor; the Honourable Corine N. George-Massicote, Speaker of the House of Assembly, who delivered the keynote address; Ms.
Sheniah Armstrong-Jones, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Development; and Detective Inspector Kendolph Bobb, Head of the Family and Juvenile Unit at the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. Rochelle Smith of the Zonta Club of Tortola, WIN BVI Ambassador Rhonda R.
Victor-Pinnock, and Andrea Blumire from the Governor’s Office. Detective Inspector Bobb outlined the current legal framework for tackling digital harms, including recent amendments to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, 2019, while flagging enforcement challenges when crimes cross borders, involve encrypted platforms or when victims are reluctant to report.
Local cases discussed during the meeting included child sexual exploitation and online grooming, possession of sexual exploitation material, cyber threats and online blackmail. Organisers noted that cyberbullying remains the most commonly reported form of digital abuse in the Virgin Islands (BVI Government; Guavaberry).
Acting Governor Archer urged a united, cross-sector response and framed the threat as both immediate and far-reaching. As reported by Guavaberry, he said digital violence "is crossing borders at a scale and speed not previously seen" and called for laws that are fit-for-purpose, community education and partnerships that extend beyond government.
Deputy Secretary Armstrong-Jones described digital violence as a public health and social protection issue and urged survivor-centred services, stronger coordination and modernised policy responses (Guavaberry). Participants left the roundtable with a set of concrete next steps to sustain momentum and strengthen protections for women and girls: hold regular quarterly meetings to monitor progress and develop actionable strategies; review existing legislation against reporting data to identify legal gaps and emerging threats; and broaden engagement with schools, the college, churches, health and mental-health practitioners, non-profit organisations (including those working with men), and corporate partners.
These commitments were outlined by organisers and attendees during the closing discussion (BVI Government; Guavaberry). The roundtable establishes a new formal space for cross-sector collaboration in the BVI. Speakers and attendees said follow-up will focus on translating discussion into community education, improved reporting pathways and stronger coordination between law enforcement, government agencies and civil society to make digital spaces safer for women and girls in the territory.
Primary source: BVI Government