UG embarks on year-long awareness campaign against gender-based violence

In its efforts to combat instances of gender-based violence, the University of Guyana on Thursday launched its year-long campaign with a candlelight vigil. The virtual event which culminated the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, remembered those who lost their lives due to domestic violence.
It also was held in honour of those who live with trauma and injuries associated with this social scourge.

Throughout the year, the anti-violence campaign will be held under differing sub-themes such as: “Survivors Never Forget”; “Domestic Violence – More Than a Fist”; “Covering up and Wearing Make-up”, and “Creating Peace and Security in Our Homes and Communities.”
This month’s team is: “UG Cares: Say No to Gender-Based Violence.”
During the virtual event, UG students detailed the gruesome circumstances under which many women lost their lives at the hands of their intimate partners over the years. Some of the women were stabbed and beaten to death by their partners, while others were strangled.
UG has already sought the assistance of its over 8000 student population to create themes that can be used for each month of the year. Also, there will be an online sticker campaign shared on the university’s website and other social media platforms.
The university will also be mounting rotating banners at the entrances of its Turkeyen and Berbice campuses, and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE).

The banners will give pointers on how to end gender-based violence and direct victims and perpetrators on how to receive assistance. UG said that this initiative is aimed at supporting the work of agencies directly involved in supporting families and communities by creating awareness, informing and educating the public, and providing care in helping to create a violence-free society.
This project is a collaborative initiative among the Department of Events, Conferences, and Communication (DECC), Office of the Vice-Chancellor; Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) – Office of the Vice-Chancellor; Institute of Gender Studies (IGS); The UG Library; Social Work Unit, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences; School of Behavioural Sciences, College of Medical Sciences; and Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning (CoETaL).
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the United Bridge Builders Mission (UBBM), a Non-Governmental Organisation, held a motorcade as part of its 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign. The participants, who were all dressed in orange, departed the UBBM office at Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, and proceeded to the university’s Turkeyen campus.
While there, the symbolic torch to support and continue the fight against gender-based violence was passed. The torch was also lit to show UG’s intention to support awareness of gender-based violence through education and other psycho-social and socio-economic-based programmes to empower and support women, girls, men, and boys.
Once in Georgetown, the motorcade made several stops at key agencies to light the torch. These include the Human Services and Social Services Ministry, the Health Ministry, and the Home Affairs Ministry. Stops were also made at the offices of local partners including the IOM, UNICEF, UNDP.
The motorcade ended at the I Love Guyana site in Kingston, Georgetown, where there was the signing of a large orange bow which was symbolic of the commitment to end gender-based violence in Guyana in keeping with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The motorcade was held in collaboration with The Spotlight Initiative, IOM, and UG.