The T&TCADV was formed in 1988 by Diana Mahabir Wyatt, the then Chair of The Shelter for Battered Women and Children in Port of Spain, and Radhica Saith, President of the Halfway Home for Battered Women in Marabella, to bring together those persons and organisations in Trinidad and Tobago that were working to eradicate domestic and other forms of gender-based violence.

T&TCADV is made up of an amalgam of over thirty organisations and individuals that are involved in support services for victims of abuse. It is a non-profit organisation that is committed to developing responses and polices that address the specific issues of violence among men, women, children and the elderly. The Coalition receives funding from the private sector, from private individuals and from international organizations in order to deliver its programmes.

The initial aim was to unite those persons and organisations in Trinidad and Tobago that were working together to eradicate domestic and other forms of gender-based violence. The objectives were to provide mutual support; and to Exchange information about activities in which each individual unit was engaged.

Since 1988, these original objectives have been expanded to include:

• Lobbying & advocacy for human rights issues regarding legislation, public policy.

• The encompassing of various forms of direct victim support in issues regarding gender-based violence.

• Research.

• Public education.

• Counselling.

• Educational aid to victims of domestic and gender-based violence.

• Witness support and legal aid (where this is otherwise unobtainable).

• Prevention programmes.

These objectives have influenced the development of programmes and activities such as the Children’s Educational Assistance Fund, the programme for counselling assistance to batterers and victims, the Peace, Love and Understanding in Schools (PLUS) Programme, ChildLine; and Stop Elderly Abuse Now (SEAN). New initiatives to come on stream include the Victim/Witness Support Programme and the Online Caribbean Behavioural Research Journal.

The Trinidad & Tobago Coalition Against Domestic Violence works with the police, with relevant ministries of Government, and with other NGO’s to achieve the objective of changing our culture to one of peace.