Noting that domestic violence continues to plague society—particularly women and youth, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill in his presentation of the 2020 National Budget yesterday said that 4.5 million Euros ($1b) has been earmarked to address violence against women and girls.
This joint European Union/United Nations initiative had been announced in October last year.
He said, too, that government will also be enhancing the capacity of law enforcement officers and prosecutors to better deal with domestic violence issues and also the physical infrastructure at police stations to better allow for the privacy required for dealing with such sensitive issues.
Edghill told the Speaker that with the support of international development partners, government will be accelerating its Spotlight Initiative, which he said “had seen little traction” under the former APNU+AFC Administration.
This Initiative he told the House Speaker has a financial envelope valued of €4.5 million and is designed to address violence against women and girls and will commence in the last quarter of this year.
Noting that domestic violence continues to plague society, particularly women and youth Edghill said that this scourge cannot be tackled by government alone and encouraged civil society organisations to partner with government.
He said that Budget 2020 has recorded increased allocations to several such organisations to help strengthen their ability to respond to domestic violence for which he urged there should be zero tolerance.
