182 domestic violence calls received on 914 hotline

So far this year, a total of 182 domestic violence-related reports have been received via the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s toll-free 914 hotline.

The calls form part of the more than 6,000 received through the hotline in 2024.

“The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has offered the region and the Spotlight Initiative a comprehensive model, starting from a reporting mechanism with the 914 24-hour toll-free hotline.

“In this year alone, over 6,000 calls were made to this hotline. 182 of them were related to domestic violence, 292 to child abuse cases. It tells you what is happening very clearly in our country,” said Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, recently.

Dr Persaud made the disclosure while addressing the issue of gender-based violence. To eradicate the issue, she called on the public to utilise the available avenues to report such cases, so that action can be taken and the necessary assistance can be provided.

“We must be proactive in this fight to eliminate gender-based violence.”

“Whenever there is a case of gender-based violence, we must report it, even if it has nothing to do with us. Don’t turn a blind eye,” Dr Persaud encouraged.

The 914 hotline was launched in December 2020 in response to the significant decline in the reporting of violence and child abuse. It is just one of the many avenues available to address the issue of gender-based violence.

Another option is the iMatter app. Police officers have also been specially trained under the Cop Squad initiative on how to handle domestic violence cases, particularly when taking reports and dealing with victims.