HUMAN Services and Social Security Minister, Vindhya Persaud, on Monday, called for stronger and more consistent legal responses in sexual assault and violence cases, arguing that current bail measures and sentencing practices do not always reflect the seriousness of such offences.
Speaking at the Sexual Assault Awareness Symposium 2026 at Duke Lodge, Dr Persaud said Guyana has made major progress in strengthening reporting systems and survivor support services, but stressed that more coordinated action is needed across the legal, social and law enforcement sectors to effectively combat abuse and sexual violence.
“Bail is not consistent or commensurate sometimes, many times, with what happens,” the minister said while addressing members of the legal fraternity. “Is it time for the legal fraternity to have the kind of discussion that looks at what are the measures being applied when you have these kinds of offences? I think it is high time.”
Dr Persaud revealed that the ministry’s 914 emergency hotline, established between 2021 and 2022 as part of a broader roadmap to address violence and abuse, has expanded significantly since its launch. The hotline initially received about 200 calls in its first year but now handles approximately 40,000 calls annually.
According to the minister, at least 30 per cent of those reports are linked to cases of violence, abuse and sexual assault, with many involving children.
“We would have seen the hotline receive thousands of calls, double-digit thousands, equivalent to about 40,000 calls per year,” she stated.
The minister also highlighted several initiatives implemented by the ministry, including the iMatter app, survivor advocacy programmes and the Hope and Justice Centre, which operates as a one-stop facility providing support services for survivors of abuse.
Dr Persaud described the Hope and Justice Centre as a pioneering regional model.
“We went one step further to crafting a one-stop model, which is the Hope and Justice Centre where all of our services are housed. So no longer do persons have the frustration of deciding or even figuring out where to go,” she said.
She noted that the centre remains the only model of its kind currently operating in Latin America and the Caribbean and has attracted international interest.
While acknowledging progress, the minister stressed that effective responses to sexual assault require stronger coordination among agencies, particularly the Guyana Police Force, social services, healthcare providers and legal authorities.
She pointed to provisions under the recently enacted Family Violence Act 2024, which establish clear timelines and responsibilities for agencies handling abuse-related reports.
“Within 72 hours, the police will have to see whether or not charges should be applied,” Dr Persaud explained.
The minister also called for the development of national Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to improve collaboration and standardise responses to sexual assault cases across the country.
Looking ahead, Dr Persaud said the Draft Harassment Bill, which has undergone public consultations for nearly two years, is now before the National Assembly and should advance swiftly.
She explained that the proposed legislation addresses a broad spectrum of harassment issues as part of wider efforts to strengthen gender equality and protection frameworks in Guyana.
The symposium brought together government officials, legal professionals, law enforcement representatives and social sector stakeholders to discuss strategies aimed at reducing sexual assault and improving survivor support systems nationwide.