UNFPA/EU Spotlight Initiative kicks off in Region Six

– St Francis Community Developers is main partner

Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Region Six, (East Berbice /Corentyne) will roll out a programme to bring awareness to gender-based violence. The programme was recently launched in Region Six at St Francis Community Developers.

This is being done through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and European Union (EU) Spotlight Initiative which seeks to empower women and girls. The EU will be contributing €4.5 million or Gy$1 billion, while the UN will provide technical support.
St Francis Community Developers, Port Mourant, Corentyne and United Bricklayers of New Amsterdam will benefit from the programme with special emphasis on school-based violence and poverty. The aim of the initiative also is to empower women and girls.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Liaison Officer Adler Bynoe explained that while the initiative targets women and girls, it does not mean that men and boys are not victims of such violence.
“Many women do not have access to the range of support services that can protect them and assist in keeping them safe, and support and address the long-term consequences of experiencing various forms of violence.”
The lack of access to those support services, Bynoe said, is what increases the challenges in having to confront instances of violence against women and girls.
In highlighting the impact that violence can have on those who suffer, he pointed out that in some instances it is fatal.
Psychological and sexual reproductive health issues can also develop as a result of violence perpetrated against women and girls.
The programme will be targeting six different areas, such as law and policies, institutional strengthening, information, provision of services, data collection, and strengthening collaboration among all stakeholders.
The two NGOs in the East Berbice/Corentyne will primarily be focusing on the provision of services as they relate to violence against women and girls.
“We see this as the bedrock of the entire spotlight programme…it can help to eliminate the issue of violence against women and girls. We will start off by having a comprehensive assessment of what the situation is across all sectors.”
These, Bynoe added, include the social services sector, the justice sector, the policing sector, and the health sector. It will also focus on how these sectors coordinate.
The programme is being rolled out in Regions One, Four Six and Seven.
In Region Six, the target areas will be New Amsterdam, with much emphasis on Angoy’s Avenue and also Port Mourant/ Tain. It will also target the Springlands, Corriverton area.
Bynoe noted that in the area of the social services, there is need for more skilled persons to be able to effectively handle each case. He said there is also the need for more training.
“There is some discussion around that, and also some discussion around shelters for survivors. We know right now there is a real challenge in providing the infrastructure for that, so we are brainstorming to see what might be the best for Guyana and what might be the best for Region Six,” Bynoe added.
Meanwhile, six cellular phones and six electronic tablets were presented to the two NGOs, so that persons who would be doing fieldwork would be able to store data and have access to providing victims with phone calls, where needed.
The spotlight initiative allows for collaboration between all stakeholders, including civil society.