The issue of gender-based and intimate partner violence was again front and centre during a recent human rights sensitisation session with key members of the justice system in Guyana. The two-day session targeted stakeholders, such as police officers and social workers, who interact with members of the public daily.
These sessions are aimed at helping justice stakeholders identify key human rights issues affecting vulnerable groups, including women and girls, who experience gender-based violence. Participants were also exposed to international agreements that protect key populations and punitive national laws and policies that adversely affect them and fail to recognise their human rights. Facilitators also explored the ripple effects of human rights violations and gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV), as well as, the different needs of the vulnerable groups.
A recent publication from the World Bank noted that Guyana faces significant challenges in addressing gender-based violence and supporting women’s economic empowerment. The report pointed to a 2019 Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Survey which revealed that over half of all women between15 and 64 years old had experienced at least one form of violence, and 4 in 10 had experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime. The World Bank report goes on to note that Guyana recorded the highest rates of gender-related homicides of women by their intimate partners in the Caribbean.
Executive Director of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC), Ivan Cruickshank says these are startling statistics which justify CVC’s continued interventions in Guyana aimed at addressing the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV). “This issue of GBV and IPV in Guyana is of grave concern to us at CVC. That is why in designing our interventions across the region, to tackle human rights violations, this crisis in Guyana was top of our mind. In discussing the situation with our partners in the country we designed human rights sensitization sessions to empower stakeholders in the justice system there, to be of greater assistance to survivors. We’re happy that we’ve been able to undertake these sessions with the help of partners such as Comforting Hearts,” he said.
Comforting Hearts’ Executive Director Garfield Grant says the partnership with CVC is making a difference in the country’s effort to effectively tackle GBV and IPV. “Comforting Hearts is honoured to have partnered with CVC to address the critical issue of gender-based and intimate partner violence in Guyana. Both Comforting Hearts and CVC recognise gender based violence and intimate partner violence as both human rights violation and public health emergency issues and we’re committed to continue working to address these issues for vulnerable women and girls in Guyana. With CVC’s support we’ve conducted several activities geared towards tackling GBV and IPV. We’ve been able to conduct sensitisation sessions with justice stakeholders to include social workers, persons who work at the courts, Justices of the Peace, probation officers and others in Regions 5 and 6. We’ve also had sessions with healthcare workers and prison officers. These sessions wouldn’t be possible without the support of CVC and we’re definitely thankful and committed to working with CVC, not only to build the capacity of these duty bearers but to work with survivors and perpetrators of violence,” he said.
The Comforting Hearts Executive Director goes on to note that monthly interventions are also bearing fruit. “Our monthly support group session for survivors of gender-based violence and also our monthly awareness and education session for perpetrators of violence goes a long way in addressing incidents of GBV and IPV in Guyana and none of that would be possible without CVC’s support and commitment to working with Comforting Hearts to address these human rights and public health issues. CVC has been a big driving force behind our activities and we also want to pledge our commitment to continue working with CVC to provide a safer and more equitable environment for not just women and girls but for members of other key population groups in Guyana,” he pointed out.
In the meantime, Shemaine Richards, a social worker with Guyana’s Ministry of Public Health, who attended the recent session, says it was very informative. “The information I’ve gathered is very informative and I plan on going back and sharing what I’ve learnt with my community and other persons at the facility where I work,” she said. Treon Barry who is a Police Officer agrees. “I plan on using this information when I go back to Region 5 to help educate my colleagues, especially in the GBV unit, to share the information I’ve learnt about the survivor centered approach. The information provided from the session was great and I learnt a lot as it relates to GBV, the issues and concerns. I plan on using this information to teach other members of the GBV unit at the headquarters and in Region 5 so we can better assist persons that are at risk and persons who come to make reports,” he said.
