– Minister Persaud, Attorney General Nandlall highlight Hope, Justice Centres and landmark Family Violence Act 2024

MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, recently represented Guyana at a two-day High-Level Symposium to Advance State Responses to Address Domestic Violence in the Caribbean, held in Barbados.
Joining her were Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, and Consultant Darshan Ramdhanie, QC, as part of a strong Guyanese delegation.
The event brought together Attorneys General, legal and policy experts, and regional and international stakeholders, under the joint hosting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Attorney General of Barbados, Hon. Dale Marshall, SC, MP.
Both Minister Persaud and Attorney General Nandlall served as panellists, showcasing Guyana’s leading role in developing innovative, survivor-centred approaches to addressing gender-based and domestic violence.
During her presentation, Minister Persaud highlighted the One-Stop Centre Model through the Hope and Justice Centres — the first and only facilities of their kind in the Caribbean.
She also shared insights into other pioneering national initiatives, including the Brave Centre, the 914 emergency hotline, and the Legal Pro Bono Programme, all of which strengthen Guyana’s comprehensive response to domestic and family violence.
The Guyanese delegation also discussed the recently enacted Family Violence Act 2024, which Attorney General Nandlall described as the first and only legislation of its kind in the Caribbean, aimed at enhancing protection mechanisms for victims and improving coordination among justice and welfare systems.
Minister Persaud noted that the symposium revealed shared regional challenges, including domestic violence, murder-suicides, and systemic response gaps, which mirror many of the issues faced in Guyana. She emphasised that collaborative dialogue and joint policy frameworks are vital to achieving long-term change.
A major outcome of the event was Guyana’s participation in a new Regional Agreement, signed by Attorney General Nandlall alongside representatives of seven Caribbean nations.
The agreement commits countries to collective action in combatting domestic violence, adopting models and strategies that Guyana has already successfully implemented.
Reflecting on the symposium, Minister Persaud described one of the most moving moments as hearing from a survivor of domestic violence who also lost her daughter to the same tragedy. The survivor’s court victory, Persaud noted, has the potential to influence regional legal precedents and reshape how courts across the Caribbean handle similar cases.
“We have much more to do to tackle gender-based, domestic, and family violence,” Minister Persaud affirmed. “But it is conversations and commitments like these, shared across countries, that strengthen our collective efforts and move us closer to real and lasting change.”
Guyana’s participation reaffirmed its growing leadership in advancing human rights, gender equality, and justice reform within the Caribbean, through both legislative innovation and practical, community-based interventions.