RELIGIOUS leaders from the different faiths across Guyana having become increasingly aware that hurting men hurt others, and more particularly their spouses, met last Thursday to discuss ways of preventing, if not ending, gender-based violence.The two-day workshop at the Ocean View Hotel at Liliendaal was organised by Gender-Based Violence Unit of the Health Ministry and the Men’s Affairs Bureau, under the auspices of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Gender-based violence is the targeting of individuals or groups of individuals on the basis of their gender or sex. It includes any act which is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm. It is typically the result of unequal power relationships between males and females.
The engagement was designed not just for empowerment presentations, but to solicit feedback and how best practices can be emulated in other faith-based communities countrywide.
Men’s Affair Bureau Administrator, Pastor Diego Alphonso said the conversation is vital to the organisation’s efforts to reduce incidence of gender-based violence, informing the religious men that their work will not go in vain.
Taking comfort in the Bible, he reminded that the good book says: “Let us not be weary in doing well, for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not,” while emphasising that men too need to be loved, cared for, listened to, respected and affirmed.
Faith-based organisations have been recognised as important partners in the fight by Government to end all forms of violence in society as they deal with matters of the heart, soul and spirit.
VENTING ANGER
“Very often when men are hurt verbally, emotionally or psychologically by their partners, they seek to return the hurt but in a physical way as a method of cushioning their own hurt. However, we can never accept that as justification for physical violence and must continue to work with men in showing them options and the better path as outlined in our sacred scriptures,” Alphonso told the gathering of religious men.
Bishop Juan Edghill, also Minister in the Ministry of Finance, lauded the forum, contending that religious leaders are the people who should have the moral compass to engender positive behavioural change in society.
According to him, gender-based violence is “too big” to be treated as a “political or funding issue,” but requires the effort of all to bring about real change.
On this note, he said all have to be more conscious of what they look at, be it the movies or cartoons shown on television, pointing out that “what fills you, controls you.”
A person has to be really strong to be looking at violence-filled movies for years and still have his psyche free of violence or not driven to behave violently even when provoked.
VIOLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT
Guyanese, he said, have to start thinking about what is good for society, more so since violence is being portrayed as entertainment. Edghill advised that in order for this problem to be addressed, parents have to mindful of the movies they view, and become the censor board, governing what their children look at.
Human Services and Social Security Ministry Permanent Secretary, Patrick Findlay said men of the cloth are the leaders entrusted to impart good values in society, contending that good values are necessary to eradicate the scourge of gender-based violence.
As such, the Reverend said, the problem is not a one-way street, pointing out that in addressing the issue, matters affecting both men and women have to receive equal attention.
