The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) yesterday launched a new initiative in an effort to ensure that support is provided at the community level for victims of gender-based violence.
The Community Advocates Network (CAN) was launched at the Public Buildings as part of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which is being observed internationally from November 25 to December 10.
Persons desirous of joining the initiative can take the “CAN pledge” to never engage in or remain silent about violence against women and girls, thereby joining a support system for those in need of help.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud said that the pledge is a commitment to support and help in the eradication of violence against women and girls.
She said it was launched not because violence is new but because an increasing number of persons continue to suffer in silence due to the lack of support.
“…Violence is not new… Violence against women and girls and boys exists in our country and we need to not be blind. We need to not be dismissive. We need to hear the repeated cries for help. We need to look beyond the physical and understand the emotional scars. We need to… hold people accountable,” Persaud explained.
Too often, Persaud said, incidents of violence are not reported either because of the stigma and discrimination that may follow, the lack of empathy or due to lack of confidence in the system.
“…We need to ensure that there is confidence… So that when they speak, when they muster up the courage within to share those terrible experiences, they know that there will be a helping hand, an ear to listen and a number of people to say I stand with you,” she said.
“Stand with every survivor of domestic violence, gender-based violence and sexual violence so that they do not feel alone, they do not feel abandoned and they do not feel that no one is listening to them,” Persaud urged.
According to Persaud, the CAN initiative will provide the scrutiny and advocacy in all communities to ensure that perpetrators face the full force of the law and that violence does not remain hidden and stigmatised.
“We are not going to be turn a blind eye anymore. Everyone is under scrutiny. Irrespective of where you stand, you will be held accountable, irrespective of who you are. And if you are perpetrating the kind of abuse that we hear about, read about and listen to, you will be brought to face the full force of the law,” she said.
Admitting that much more needs to be done, Persaud said there will be a review of the Sexual offences Act and the Domestic Violence Act to modernize the laws, “to look at the gaps that exists within them. So we have a strong structural support from the Government of Guyana because we are all united in this.”
Presently, the MoHSSS is providing support for victims of gender-based violence through a number of avenues. They include the 914 hotline, which is a reporting mechanism whereby persons can call for help and the COPSQUAD initiative through which police men and women are being trained on how to handle domestic violence reports.
Cabinet members as well as members of the diplomatic corps who were present at the launch yesterday took the pledge. Among those present were Prime Minister Mark Phillips; Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai; Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag, United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and British High Commissioner Jane Miller.
