The Canadian High Com-mission in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection and the Guyana Police Force yesterday facilitated a self-defence training session in observance of the 16 days of Activism for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence.
Scores of brightly dressed participants converged at the High Commission and the session began with a mini-march to the Kingston bandstand.
In brief remarks, Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux commented on the need for a change in the attitude when it comes to addressing gender-based violence. “We all know we are here today because we believe there is a need to change the behaviour and attitude towards violence. What you are doing here today is one little brick in a big construction; every single day we have to continue to raise awareness and say we do not want violence to occur to women or anyone,” the High Commissioner said.
Meanwhile, Akiela Doris, a representative of the Ministry of Social Protection, encouraged the participants to pay keen attention to self-defence techniques being taught as they might come in handy if a situation arises.
“When that time comes, if it should ever come, we would be equipped and well prepared to handle the situation. So, I encourage you all here this afternoon to take it and practice it because you don’t know when you may need it,” Doris said.
She also took the opportunity to encourage the utilisation of the services offered by the Ministry of Social Protection.
“At the Ministry of Social Protection, we offer a wide range of services and we just want to encourage the citizenry of Guyana to not wait until their relationships become unhealthy and likely to go down a road of violent outbursts. You can come to any one of our locations across Guyana,” Doris said, while stressing the need to look out for one another. “Gender-based violence is everybody’s business; violence on the whole does not discriminate, irrespective of what class you’re a part of, what your race is, what your religion is, how beautiful you are or how rich you are. We need to take a raincheck and recognise that violence destroys society, violence destroys lives and we need to encourage ourselves and encourage others out there that help is available,” she added, while urging participants not to remain silent.
Some of the participants commended the initiative. One woman who spoke to Stabroek News said the training should be continuous as it can be very useful in times of distress.
The 16 days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women campaign began on November 25 and will continue until Human Rights Day, which will be observed on December 10.
According to United Nations Women, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. It has said that one of the major challenges to efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls worldwide is the substantial funding shortfall. To bring this issue to the fore, the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women’s call for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in 2016 is ‘Orange the World: Raise Money to End Violence against Women and Girls.’ United Nations Women said the initiative provides a moment to bring the issue of sustainable financing for initiatives to prevent and end violence against women to global prominence and also presents the opportunity for resource mobilisation for the issue.
