Three civil society organisations working to eliminate gender-based violence received grants totalling US$600,000 last evening from the US Embassy to expand their efforts and to meaningfully assist victims.
The proposals submitted by Red Thread, Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre and ChildLink Incorporated, which were awarded the grants last evening, range from education and awareness to improved implementation of existing criminal penalties for domestic violence. Red Thread received a US$400,000 grant; Roadside Baptist, a US$90,000 grant; and ChildLink, a US$99,000 grant.
US Embassy Charge d’Affairs Bryan Hunt expressed the hope that the award of the grants will be a new critical phase in the US government’s efforts to assist the people of Guyana in combatting gender-based violence.
“Tonight’s event seeks not only to recognise the significant achievements that the global community, in general, and Guyana, in particular, have made in working to end gender based violence but also to raise awareness of the significant work that remains to be done, if we are to eliminate this significant roadblock to women’s full participation in political, economic, and social lives of their communities,” Hunt said.
He pointed out that gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, education level, and international boundaries. An estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in their lifetime and according to Hunt research has indicated violence by spouses or family members are the most common experienced by women globally.
Further, Hunt noted that children are particularly vulnerable as almost 50% of all sexual assaults worldwide are against girls 15 and younger while around the globe annually some 150 million girls and 73 million boys are victims of forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence.
Gender-based violence is very crippling and its consequences devastating, Hunt said, while adding that this form of violence undermines not only the safety, dignity, overall health status, and human rights of the millions of individuals who experience it, but also the public health, economic stability, and security of nations. Research has also shown that women’s empowerment is critical to building stable, democratic societies to supporting open and accountable governance; to furthering international peace and security; to growing vibrant market economies; and to addressing pressing health and education challenges. As a result, Hunt said that everyone has a collective interest in preventing and responding to gender-based violence wherever and whenever it occurs around the world.
Hunt said that doing more includes raising awareness, changing societal attitudes, and offering care and support for victims of gender-based violence. He said it includes building more shelters, offering additional counselling to victims and their families, and assisting victims in achieving economic independence from their abusers. There is need, he added, for a clear global understanding that gender-based violence is and must be treated as a serious criminal activity with severe criminal penalties.
“Our first response in handling instances of such violence must include the involvement of law enforcement, prosecutors and the courts to ensure that those who persist in perpetrating violence against their family members are held accountable and brought to justice,” Hunt said.
The evidence has shown that if severe criminal penalties are not attached to gender-based violence, such violence becomes a self-perpetuating cycle in which children learn abuse and ultimately become abusers.
Hunt stated that breaking the cycle is key to ending gender based violence and can only be done by treating such behviour as the crime which it is.
Red Thread is expected to use the grant on improved implementation of domestic violence laws and will work with communities, law enforcement, and the justice sector to create a protective environment against domestic violence and to increase prosecution of gender-based violence in the criminal justice sector.
On the other hand, ChildLink’s project will aim to build capacity and raise awareness among teenagers, caregivers, including teachers and parents and school welfare officers on the issue of gender-based violence and its relationship to HIV/AIDS.
Roadside Baptiste will use education to address deep-seated social and cultural norms that contribute to gender-based violence. It is expected to work with young men to promote positive and healthy definition of masculinity; to build conflict resolution skills; to provide coping mechanisms for depression, anger and stress; and to assist them in developing healthy relationships.
