More awareness needed to fight gender-based violence in 2019 – Social Services Director

In keeping with the ‘Men Against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign, the Social Protection Ministry has released its plans for 2019 as it relates to putting an end to violence against women and girls around the world.
These programmes are geared at raising awareness while eliminating all forms of violence against women in particular.
Director within the Social Protection Ministry, Whentworth Tanner, stated that the Ministry has recognised the need for men to be trained in particular divisions which will in return be beneficial “not only to women but society also”.
“Based on our interactions with males, they believe that they are not being heard and there are all painted with the same brush by society. As a result, we wanted to set up a forum where men are comfortable to discuss those issues and also assist in fixing those issues”.
Tanner revealed that there are plans to introduce programmes in schools which is expected to target toddlers (from three years and older).
“The school programmes will target boys from three years old and it will teach them how to deal with certain situations involving girls and how to also work around certain issues. Basically, the programme is to teach them how to refrain from violence against girls and women – as they grow older”.
The Director also noted that these activities will be conducted in all 10 administrative regions. Further, he disclosed that the Ministry through the Regional Women’s Affairs Committee will be working closely with the Regional Democratic Councils on these projects.
“Addressing the issues with women alone will not fix the problem, we have to involve all persons. We taught that this is a really good opportunity because if men are informed, they will be able to pass down that information and also be able to correct their colleagues”.
These comments came on the heels of the recently concluded annual ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign.
The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.
Currently, more than 3700 organisations from approximately 164 countries participate in the campaign annually.
Joining these organisations this year is Voices Against Violence, an umbrella entity comprising non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, community-based organisations and other entities and activists that organise speak outs across Guyana.
This effort has been endorsed by the Ministry, which is partnering with Voices Against Violence; the Women and Gender Equality Commission and Help and Shelter.
Organisations, groups and communities are urged to bring people together and have them share experiences, personal or otherwise, on gender-based, child and sexual abuse as well as to brainstorm ideas which will address these scourges.
The idea is to create scope for victims to speak out since doing so is a form of catharsis that can also motivate and inspire other victims.
The campaign was held under the theme ‘Hear me too: collective voices against gender-based violence’, the programme aims at targeting all males across the length and breadth of Guyana. (Yanalla Dalrymple)