Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud and participants of the Trainer of Trainers programme
Some 53 Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) members of government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other entities recently completed a training programme focused on strengthening prevention approaches to address Gender-Based violence.
This Foundations Trainer of Trainers programme is led by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, in collaboration with United Nations Women, through the Spotlight Initiative.
“This programme targets 13- to 25-year-olds from across the country, where they understand the nuances of gender-based violence [and] are aware of the support mechanisms, the legislation and how to resolve conflict without resolving to violence,” said Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud during the programme, which was hosted at the Little Rock Hotel.
The minister added that this training sets the precedent for other regions to follow.
“This training will lead into a number of very important areas for the Ministry, so Region Six, you have started something that every region will be able to follow and have more inclusivity in the kind of training we are offering,” Persaud said.
“It is opening [programmes] like these that persons are equipped with the skills and information and knowledge to deal with issues of violence, and it means that this information will be disseminated widely,” she added.
Detective Sergeant Dean Smith, who is the officer in charge of crime at the number two sub-division expressed, his gratitude for being a part of the training session, finding it particularly useful given his line of work.
“As a law enforcement officer, we encounter reports of these particular nature, of these gender roles, gender equality, sexual violence and so on, and this training now will help the several officers among the batch to impart knowledge to a person who is coming at the station to report these crimes and also we will be able to go into the communities and impart the knowledge to those affected by violence and abuse,” Dean-Smith said.
He added that the training was also well put-together and simple enough for the layman to understand the concepts and execute them.
Likewise, Chair of the Gender Affairs Committee in Region Six, Shinelle Maxine-Jaffarally found this training programme informative and timely.
“Some of the issues raised and dealt with in this training we see very prevalent in our society as we address gender issues, sexual harassment, and so forth. I think all the information that was dispensed, it was very good and there are so many things we can do to help women and young people. I will now go back to my office and develop programmes to help in different areas, especially in the depressed communities,” Maxine-Jaffarally said.
Meanwhile, cricket administrator Ameer Rahaman remarked that this workshop would prove beneficial as he continued his work.
“It has helped me so much that I can go back now and teach my kids, both boys and girls, I would be able to handle certain situations, listen to them and be able to advise them,” Rahaman said.
“This workshop is something I wish we can have more of it, especially towards the sports end and this has helped me to the point that I know on a day-by-day basis I will be able to help my kids in most of the situations they are going through,” he said.
