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To commemorate the observance, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, joined the delegates at the 16th Triennial Congress of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) at the Diamond Secondary School, East Bank Demerara.
“We must recognise the need for strong action and bold leadership, to unite and join forces to end the pandemic of violence against our women and girls,” Minister Webster stated.
She highlighted that today there are 125 countries around the world which have enacted legislation to ensure that there are penalties in place for perpetrators of gender-based violence.
Guyana has a strong and robust legislative and policy framework for the protection of women. The Constitution enshrines the rights of women, several international treaties including the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other pieces of legislation, such as the Domestic Violence Act (1996) and the Sexual Offences Act (2010).
Minister Webster also highlighted that the elimination of gender-based violence is an important issue that transcends all barriers, including race, politics, culture or geographic location, and is one of the greatest obstacles which can have a significant effect on the advancement of women.
She recognised that violence has a social and economic cost to a society, and seriously jeopardises the progress and prosperity of the world. However, the human cost to women and their families is unquantifiable and therefore demands urgent attention.
The minister posited that violence in whatever form it takes is repugnant to human life and freedom, and there is nothing remotely excusable about violence against women. In this regard, at the level of the Government of Guyana, a “zero tolerance” policy against gender-based violence is articulated.
Minister Webster noted that despite the government’s efforts, there is need to protect women and girls from the violence of husbands, partners and male family members. She added that there are many ways men can indicate that they are supportive of women. “Change begins with men of honour speaking out, to let perpetrators know that violent attitudes and negative behaviour against women are unacceptable in any circumstance,” she emphasised.
Additionally, this year, the Men’s Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security undertook initiatives to encourage men to support the need to end violence against women.
Minister Webster explained that to prevent violence against women, efforts must be dedicated towards changing inappropriate attitudes and behavioural patterns towards women. “We must see our women as having a right to grow up in an environment that is free from violence, neglect, and exploitation… it is important to challenge attitudes that violate those rights, because the way we think and talk about people defines the way we treat them,” she stressed.
Additionally, positive attitudes need to be inculcated in children, so that as adults, they will learn to treat other people with respect and decency. In this regard, parents have an obligation to be positive role models to their children, while the education system has a role to reinforce those messages.
Minister Webster said the recently-launched TELL Scheme which aims at empowering and sensitising young primary school children to ‘tell’ against sexual violence can only occur in an environment where disclosure is encouraged.
The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security is developing a national action plan from the recently conducted national conversation on gender based violence. This will outline the role of government and its partners.
General Secretary-WPO, Indra Chandarpal, in her remarks, recognised that today is a very important part of the world’s history, because globally, women’s organisations, and governments are observing International Day against Violence against Women.
The WPO has been observing this day, especially in honour of three sisters from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered due to their political standing, and since 1983, women in that country have lobbied for the day to be set aside for their recognition.
While the day honours the three sisters from The Dominican Republic, it also calls for the eradication of all forms of violence against women.
Chandarpal noted that since the passing of the Domestic Violence Act of 1996, a lot has been done to fight the scourge of violence against women.
“We have always held the view that this fight is not a fight that must be carried by women only… it is a fight that all players in society should be part of,” she declared. (GINA)
