Men’s Affairs unit amplifies anti-violence campaign

Feb 11, 2014 News

In light of several reports, which suggest an upsurge in criminal activities perpetrated by young people, the Men’s Affairs Bureau (MAB) has intensified its anti -violence campaign aimed at transforming the lives of “men of all ages.”
The agency, which was established a few years ago, as an extension of the Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security, to partner, organise and coordinate the activities for men to achieve their full potential, in Guyana’s social, cultural and economic sectors has upped the ante with regards to its school based outreach programmes.
During a recent interview with this newspaper, MAB Administrator, Diego Alphonso, explained that the bureau is continually working towards intensifying its campaign.
“We will continue our outreaches in the private and public school and educational institutions in general, in addition, to children’s homes, sports clubs.
“Anywhere that men and boys congregate or can be mobilized there could be discussion on gender based violence, suicide prevention, interpersonal violence.”
“As it relates to ages, we don’t work with specific ages necessarily, we go to primary and secondary schools and as I mentioned, wherever boys can be mobilised or they get together. The responses are very encouraging and it gives us the impetus to continue,” he emphasized.
Alphonso added that the administration is currently working to resume sessions at New Opportunity Corps.
Although the MAB facilitator did not provide much detail, he disclosed that the department has initiated its 2014 work programme. According to which, several public discussions are scheduled to be hosted.
“There are certain areas that have been outlined for us to target during our campaign— Rasville, Tiger Bay, Albouystown—where we are going to hold sessions, aimed at engaging men and boys in activities which stimulate anti-violent behaviour.
We will discuss topics such as role models with them, as a way of diverting them from the wrong role models, and thus discouraging violent behaviour.”
The administrator further disclosed that the agency intends to work in collaboration with already established sports clubs and social groups to host initiatives that will attract and positively impact young men.
“Men in general want to be challenged, they have a desire to compete; hence we are in discussions with sports clubs and organizations to host certain sporting events and competitive activities that will attract young men. We are thinking more along the line of football and cricket. However, we are still at the stage of brainstorming the logistics of it.”
Last year, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), expressed grave concern with regard to youths involved in increased crime and violence locally and around the region.
In this regard, Alphonso says that the department will continue its partnership with local and international bodies to achieve an ultimate objective of wiping out the degree of crime and violence prevalent amongst youths in today’s society.
“We do a lot of collaboration. The Child Care and Protection Agency opened its doors for us to have sessions with the boys at the Sophia Training Centre, Drop in Center and the Mahaica Children’s Home before it started catering for girls only.
We also collaborate with officers of the Women’s Affairs Bureau, who would interact with the females while we engage the men.”
“We have collaborated with the National Commission on the Family and which will continue in this New Year. We also have an external facilitator, a Clinical Psychologist, who has been very involved in out outreaches in the prisons.”
“We are grateful to the UNFPA and the UNAIDS who have made certain projects become a reality as they partner with us.”
Other collaborative efforts by MAB include working with the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) unit within the Ministry of Health.
“This year, we are embarking on a programme for fathers, addressing the issue of GBV. We are appealing to organizations or persons, who may be in contact with large groups of young men to contact so that we can organize sessions on various topics of interest to that will weigh in on non-violent behaviour.”

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