Dear Editor,
Worldwide measures to prevent, protect against and respond to COVID-19, including social isolation, school closure, reduced hours/days at workplaces, are resulting in lack of employment, reduced money for households, especially poor and vulnerable ones, increased stress and tension and increased reports of all forms of gender-based violence, exploitation and child abuse.
Guyana is no different. CSOs in Guyana who work on child protection and response report that during school vacations there is a large spike in reports of child abuse, including child sexual abuse. COVID-19 greatly increases these risks. As such, special measures must be put in place to respond effectively to this vulnerable and at risk population and women and girls and children in general.
We call on the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Social Protection to take all measures to ensure that health, education, child services, police and social service agency frontline workers are alerted to the increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence and the increased risk for children of physical, sexual, psychological abuse and neglect, have standard operating protocols (SOPs) readily available outlining steps for immediate survivor support and assistance, including referral numbers and addresses for state and NGO support services, and adequate transportation to places of safety when and if needed.
Public education safety advisories should be widely issued to alert the public about emergency hotlines so that adults or children at risk or members of the public who are aware of such situations know where to report and what services are available. We ask that both GTT and Digicel issue such advisories often and consistently and that all media outlets, TV and radio stations and social media platforms are given the advisories and transmit them often and consistently. UNICEF has issued advisories and full use should be made of these and adapted if needed for Guyana.
The contact numbers for the undermentioned NGOs and agencies and the services they offer are as follows:
Yours faithfully,
Danuta Radzik for Help & Shelter
Karen de Souza for Red Thread
Ayo Dalgety-Deen for Blossom Inc
Omattie Madray for ChildLink Inc
Roxan la Rose for United Bricklayers
