US Embassy joins local fight against gender-based violence

Oct 01, 2014 News

By Latoya Giles
Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Byran Hunt, on Monday evening handed over grant aids totaling US$600,000 from the United States State Department to three Local Non-Governmental Organizations.

Representatives of the three entities pose with Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Bryan Hunt

Among the recipients that worked tirelessly to obtain the funding were the Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre which received US$89,962, Child Link (US$99,999) and Red Thread, which received almost US$400,000.
The money is expected to be used by the agencies to fight instances of gender-based violence across the country with an aim to eliminating the scourge.
Addressing the gathering, the Chargé d’Affaires explained that the money will be used to enable the organizations to expand their existing grass root work to prevent violence, and to assist victims in meaningful ways.
Hunt explained that the US Embassy has launched what he says will be a critical new phase in the United States government’s efforts to assist the people of Guyana in advancing the status of women and combating the scourge of gender-based violence.
Hunt said that the event sought not only to recognize the significant achievements that the global community, in general, and Guyana, in particular, have made in working to end gender-based violence, but also to raise awareness of the significant work that remains to be done, if they are to eliminate this significant roadblock to women’s full participation in the political, economic, and social lives of their communities.
“Gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, education level, and international boundaries, and an estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime,” Hunt told the gathering.
He said that research provides evidence that violence committed by spouses or family members is the most common form of violence experienced by women globally, and children are particularly vulnerable.
“Almost 50 percent of all sexual assaults worldwide are against girls 15 and younger. Around the globe annually, 150 million girls and 73 million boys are victims of forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence,” Hunt asserted.
He further stated that doing more includes raising awareness, changing societal attitudes, and offering care and support for the victims of gender-based violence, building more shelters, offering additional counselling to victims and their families, and assisting victims in achieving economic independence from their abusers.
“International donors, civil society, and the private sector can and should unquestionably assist in this area,” the Charge d’Affaires stressed.
He said, however, such efforts will always be insufficient until such time as there is a clear global understanding that gender-based violence is and must be treated as serious criminal activity with severe criminal penalties.
Hunt further noted that the first response in handling instances of such violence must include the involvement of law enforcement, prosecutors and the courts, to ensure that those who persist in perpetrating violence against their family members are held accountable and brought to justice.
“Decades of research have shown that if severe criminal penalties do not attach to gender-based violence, such violence becomes a self-perpetuating cycle in which children learn abuse and ultimately become abusers.”
The grants which were given out will help to empower Guyanese civil society organizations to begin an expansion of local efforts to eliminate gender-based violence. Hunt said that the proposals that they would be funding run the gamut of activities from education and awareness to improved implementation of existing criminal penalties for domestic violence.
Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre’s project will use education to address deep-seated social and cultural norms that contribute to gender-based violence. It will work with young men to promote a positive and healthy definition of masculinity; to build conflict resolution skills; to provide coping mechanisms for depression, anger and stress; and to assist them in developing healthy relationships.
Child Link Incorporated’s project will aim to build capacity and raise awareness among teenagers and caregivers, including teachers and parents, Parent/Teacher Association executives, and school welfare officers on the issue of gender-based violence and its relationship to HIV/AIDS.
Red Thread’s project focuses on improved implementation of domestic violence laws. It will work with communities, law enforcement, and the justice sector to create a protective environment against domestic violence and to increase prosecution related to gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, Chair of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Indranie Chandarpal pointed out that there is still a lot of work left to be done. She said, in her personal opinion, this type of violence cannot be eliminated but must be reduced, and called for all stakeholders to keep raising awareness. She recognized the need for a collaborative effort to tackle this type of violence. Also in attendance at the event were Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Jennifer Webster; Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ann Greene; as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps.