“iMatter” app now puts GBV hotline at the fingertips of victims

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry has announced that the gender-based violence app, “iMatter” has been redesigned and is now equipped with a panic button, directly linking persons to the 914 hotline number.
The app can be downloaded from both the Google Play Store and Apple store. This technological development allows persons to access help and resources on gender-based violence and is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Guyana Spotlight Initiative, a European Union-United Nations global partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

Its creation involved initial input by a local GBV activist while Techlify Incorporation took the app to its current form under the guidance of UNFPA and the Ministry.
Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud shared that these additional efforts further strengthen response for gender-based violence victims.
“The app is part of the continuing work we are doing to tackle domestic violence. I wanted to ensure that persons out there have multiple ways to reach out for help, and putting the panic button in the App was something I insisted on. The team working on the App spared no effort to review and revise to have a user-friendly App that contains information and educational resources that will appeal to all ages and needs,” she revealed.
The application was launched in March 2021 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at the “We Lift” event hosted by the Human Services Ministry. It is available on all android (iMatter) and IOS devices (iMattergy) and sports a user-friendly layout. After downloading from your app store, simply select the region you live in to get started for educational information on gender-based violence and to find support services for you or someone you know who is affected by violence.
“I appeal to persons living in violent situations to get on to 914, either by phone or app, because you matter to us and we do not want to see continued acts of violence that leave so much death, pain and scars in their wake. I encourage people to have every member of their family download the “iMatter app”, let’s save lives and stop the violence,” Dr Persaud appealed.
The categories that can be selected include sexual violence and disability, sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, domestic violence, child abuse and elderly abuse. The application also contains useful resources and answers to frequently asked questions that would help users understand more about gender-based violence.
Dedicated gender-based violence caseworkers assigned to the gender-based violence technological platform will respond by reaching out to a gender-based violence survivor or individual at risk, via the communication channel that the individual has expressed a preference for.