Guyana’s approach to tackling gender-based violence is both comprehensive and holistic. However, significant challenges remain in eradicating this “serious” issue, which is a “grave” concern for many.
“I think gender-based violence is a grave concern, a serious issue, and one that affects far too many lives,” stated Dr Vindhya Persaud, the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, during a recent address.
Dr Persaud was speaking at a gender-based violence medical symposium held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal. Organised by the ministry’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, the symposium aimed to enhance the response of medical practitioners to gender-based violence, clarify the referral pathways, and outline the roles and responsibilities of these professionals in addressing such critical issues.
Dr Persaud highlighted that gender-based violence is deeply embedded in the fabric of the country, with statistics revealing that 1 in every 3 women experiences violence before the age of 55. In light of this alarming reality, she outlined a range of initiatives introduced by the ministry to provide vital assistance and support. These include the 914 toll-free hotline, the Spotlight Initiative, and the Community Advocates Network (CAN).
“With these concerted efforts, Guyana is setting a leading example in the region for responding to gender-based violence,” Dr Persaud asserted. “This didn’t happen overnight.”
Additionally, she announced that the Family Violence Act 2024 has been passed in the National Assembly. This significant piece of legislation delineates response mechanisms and the protections available to individuals affected by violence.
Emphasising that Guyana’s response model is both comprehensive and adaptive, Dr Persaud affirmed the ministry’s commitment to continual improvement in order to meet the evolving needs of those experiencing gender-based violence.
“Not only do we aim to reduce the statistics, but we also want to ensure that no woman or child loses their life to gender-based violence. We don’t want any man to lose his life either. We want to protect everyone from the horrors of gender-based violence,” she concluded.
