The WPO supports all the initiatives taken thus far to stop violence against women and it encourages citizens to play a greater role in shaping the lives of youth to deter them from employing violence to solve problems.
In a press release the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) said it predicted that governments and civil society organisations would use the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to evaluate, promote and make new commitments towards the eradicating domestic and other forms of violence. This year observations were held yesterday under the United Nations theme ‘Commit-Act-Demand: We Can End Violence against Women.’
The WPO said its members were scheduled to speak to residents in Berbice at Chesney/Kilcoy North and South, Nigg, Guava Bush, Toopoo, Number 68 and 69 villages and in Region Ten at the Three Friends Health Centre. Presentations on domestic violence will be held at the Cane Grove Primary, the Shivata Business School, Helena Primary, Supply Primary, Mahaica Primary, the Hindu College in Cove and John, Bath Primary, Uitvlugt Secondary, Zeeburg Secondary and Leonora Primary. The WPO general secretary is also expected to address workers at the Denmor Garment Factory. Flyers providing useful information and tips will be distributed at all these locations.
According to the release Guyana being a signatory to the CEDAW convention and the Belem Do Para Convention took steps in 1996 to pass the Domestic Violence Act in order to provide protection to women and all victims of abuse. Many important actions, policies and programmes were taken by the government and other organisations to give effect to the Act.
November 25 was designated International Day against Violence against Women at the First Feminist Encounter of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Bogotá, Colombia in 1981. The day was designated in memory of the three Mirabel sisters of the Dominican Republic who were tortured and murdered by the Trujillo regime in 1960. The UN recognised the day in 1998, a move that was welcomed by the women of Latin America and the Caribbean region who for years had been lobbying for such an outcome.