International Men’s Day 2025: “We shouldn’t be okay with abuse”

– Persaud slams mocking of male victims at Police Stations
Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindyha Persaud has issued a strong condemnation of the ridicule and dismissive treatment that male victims of domestic abuse continue to face when seeking help at Police Stations, declaring that Guyana “shouldn’t be okay with abuse” in any form.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Men’s Wellness Symposium hosted at Herdmanston Lodge to commemorate International Men’s Day, Minister Persaud outlined a series of initiatives aimed at improving support systems for men while also tackling long-standing cultural norms surrounding masculinity, relationships, and expectations within Guyanese society.
However, Persaud highlighted troubling cultural attitudes that normalise the suffering of men. She noted that many people know men who are victims of abuse or violence but dismiss these experiences. The 914 hotline, launched several years ago, initially saw only women reporting incidents; however, recent statistics show more men are now calling to seek help, which the Minister described as significant progress.
However, Persaud acknowledged that progress is hindered when men attempting to report abuse face laughter, mockery, or disbelief at Police Stations.
“But in being realistic, we should not be permissive. It’s a big difference. We should not be okay with abuse. We should not be okay with violence on either side. And we should not be okay with disrespect… We need to work not only on the report of the hotline; we need to work on the Police Stations out there so that when men go to the Police Stations, they are not diminished. They’re not laughed at. They’re not mocked because that happens. They might find in that one split second that courage to go and say, ‘You know what? I’m being abused or beaten up. Something’s going wrong with me,’” the Minister said.
During her address, Persaud announced that the Ministry is preparing to roll out a new policy framework for men titled Bridging the Gap, which was introduced earlier this year. Central to the policy is the Partner Assault Relationship Programmeme, which examines the root causes of violence, ways to provide support, avenues for prevention, and strategies to foster healthier relationships.
According to her, failing to intervene now will only contribute to more households where children are left without parents, an outcome she has seen first-hand.
Challenge cultural norms
“We’re looking at the ‘why’s. How can we help, support, unravel it, and how can we provide prevention methods to developing healthier relationships? Because we have to; because if we don’t do that, I will be visiting more homes where children are left without parents. That’s the reality, but what are we doing right now to have all of these things happen? We have introduced a programme called the Brave Program because I’m a firm believer that we should not label men as bad people. We need to move away from that narrative. We are having the Brave Program because they’re men who do good things every day. They’re men who contribute positively to their homes, their families, their communities, and their country,” Persaud explained.
She urged Guyanese men and women to challenge cultural norms that excuse violence or belittle victims and to promote a culture where wellness, responsibility, and respect are universal expectations – not gendered ones.
“This is something you can all champion even in your friend circle. Let them be okay with telling you. Let them be okay with telling you so that they can go to get help because the services are not only for women. 914, the iMatter app, the legal pro bono initiative where we provide free legal support, the counselling services, the shelters – all of these things are gender neutral, and so is the new legislation which I took to Parliament in 2024 and got support on and today is now called Family Violence Act of 2024. It’s gender neutral for both men and women, and so we need to make these things, change these things. Listen, we’re talking about the Caribbean male,” she urged.