Govt working to upgrade domestic violence hotlines

– as gender-based violence is a concern across Guyana

As part of efforts to tackle gender-based violence across Guyana, steps have been taken to address issues affecting the Domestic Violence Hotline with the aim to improve accessibility and provide swifter support for victims and those seeking to report such cases.
The Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud made this announcement during the consideration of the Budget Estimates on Friday night, as she revealed that her Ministry has already begun upgrading existing systems to better address cases of gender-based violence.

“We are also expanding how we use ICT (Information and Communications Technology) across the country. As you know, the hinterland now, with a very good programme through the Prime Minister’s Office, where they are connecting communities at all the hubs so people can actually access information and services. Those are very important things… It is important that everyone knows, so together we can fight the cases of violence that arise, and if we don’t see it as an apolitical issue, we will not be able to do what we need to,” she said.
According to the Minister, this year the Ministry will be rolling out its WhatsApp emergency feature for its iMatter app.
“The iMatter app was the first of its kind in the region, and it was an app that was developed. It offers resources to counter violence, whether you are in the hinterland or on the coastline. This year, we are adding a WhatsApp feature so that people, in addition to pressing the panic button on the first page of the iMatter app, can actually have that WhatsApp kind of conversation to make reports. We can offer counsel, and beyond that.”
She disclosed that they are going out into communities to notify them about survivor advocates.
Survivor Advocates could be assigned to persons who are experiencing violence in all its forms
“We are also going out into communities to let them know about the Survivor Advocate programme, and we are going out there because the Family Violence Act is very new, and we have to ensure that whether persons are in the hinterland or on the coastline, they are aware of the measures in the Family Violence Act. If they are aware of the measures, they will understand that the Act has both a civil and a criminal component, and perpetrators will face the full force of the law.”
She added that this new piece of legislation is very tough as well.
“It’s new, and it is a very tough piece of legislation. So, when we go into the hinterland and on the coastline, we are also doing a very novel thing…I must thank my colleague, Minister Ben, for working along with me. We were on a case, as of yesterday, that almost concluded tonight, and we are looking at how we can train the police officers, station by station, by station.”
She added that this is the plan for this year, and it will roll out very soon.
“That is the plan this year, and that plan will start very soon. We had initiated the Cops Squad initiative, and that initiative allowed a percentage of the police force to be trained in case management, in responding to cases effectively. We also started working with women, families, and children on how they can access these services.”
According to her, those services will be going into the hinterland so that people understand their rights, how the law protects them, and what the services are that that the Ministry offers.
Meanwhile, the Minister revealed that there will be increased visits to hinterland communities, where residents will be engaged in indigenous languages when conducting gender-based violence sensitisation.
“It’s something we’ve been working on. It’s not 100 per cent where we want to be, but… we have done that, and we have started to do it somewhat under the domestic violence programme as well. It is very difficult to get all of the languages, but we are making every effort to do it.”
In 2024, 62 outreach programmes were conducted, and 100 are expected in 2025, including in Barakara and other indigenous communities.