THE Alliance For Change (AFC) intends to take a pro-active approach to reducing incidents of domestic abuse if it gets into office, following the upcoming November 28 elections.
National executive member of the AFC, Mrs. Latchmin Punalall, says the AFC abhors every incident in which a woman or child is abused, whether it is physically, verbally, mentally, spiritually or emotionally.
According to a press statement from the party, Punalall acknowledges that very often women are the victims of abuse but also notes that men are also victims.
The AFC, in its Action Plan for Guyana, has a 20-point agenda for addressing gender equality and support. These include:
** establishing legal aid support for women who are victims of domestic violence and a rescue support fund during rehabilitation ** implement special tax benefits for single parents, free land for housing to people below the poverty line and review collateral requirements at financial institutions to address historical imbalances which can exclude women from qualifying for loans.
The AFC said it also plans to reform the tax system to provide allowances for dependants.