THE government remains unwavering in its efforts to end domestic violence and to raising awareness about the growing scourge.

SINCE assuming office in 2020, several interventions have been pursued by the government. These included the updating of critical legislation such as the Family Violence Act 2023 and the establishment of two Hope and Justice Centres in Regions Three and Four, as well as the establishment of the country’s first Gender Based Violence Mobile Unit in Region One. The mobile unit was established to provide access to essential services and immediate support to survivors of gender-based violence in that region.

Additionally, communities in each region were trained and sensitised on sexual offences and domestic-violence prevention.

For the past four years, free legal aid services were provided to more than 19,500 persons. There was also the establishment of the legal pro-bono initiative to provide legal services to mainly victims of domestic violence.

During the reading of Budget 2025, Minister at the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, stated that 2,478 survivors of gender-based violence benefitted from shelter and counselling services and essential items for hygiene and nutrition.

Further, Minister Singh noted that government brought into law the Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act 2023, which criminalises sex and labour trafficking, and increased previously prescribed penalties for trafficking crimes.

Notably, 2024 marked the eighth consecutive year Guyana maintained its Tier 1 status in the United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons ranking.

The Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, in her 2024 end-of-year press conference revealed that at least $150 million was allotted to combatting sexual offences and gender-based violence.

This was the first time Guyana had a comprehensive model to respond to gender-based violence. The progress for this is ‘measured.’ It was also revealed that 2024 was the first time there was a decrease in domestic violence-related murders. Figures show that there was a 33 per cent decrease.

With the implementation of the 914 hotline, more than 200 of 14,000 calls received were related directly to domestic violence or cases of gender-based violence. The minister pointed out that over 300 of these calls were related to child protection or reports of child abuse.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has been able to help over 1,500 persons who had called in for support through the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit.

Dr Singh said that in 2024, the government expended a total of $46.9 billion to pursue initiatives in the social services. In 2025, $58.5 billion has been included in the national budget to continue this work.