Guyana’s efforts to combat gender-based violence have entered a new phase, with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security introducing stronger legal protections and digital tools to improve access to help and justice for survivors.
This is according to the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, during an interview with the Starting Point Podcast, where she explained that these advancements build on the foundation of the Spotlight Initiative, a global partnership between the United Nations and the European Union aimed at ending violence against women and girls.
It was also noted that a key milestone in the reform effort is the Family Violence Act of 2024, which gives survivors the right to remain in their homes while perpetrators are required to leave.
“The new law, the Family Violence Act of 2024, provides for survivors to stay on the premises, in the home or rented apartment, and the perpetrator has to remove themselves,” Minister Persaud said.
The Minister further explained that the Act is complemented by expanded shelter services and rental assistance programmes designed to ensure both immediate protection and long-term stability for survivors.
The Ministry has also turned to technology to strengthen response systems. The iMatter app—described by Minister Persaud as “the first digital app in the entire Caribbean in Latin America”—features a panic button and direct connections to the 914 hotline, allowing survivors to access critical support services quickly and discreetly.
Beyond legal and digital innovations, Dr. Persaud emphasized the importance of the ministry’s community advocate network, which she credited as the backbone of Guyana’s grassroots response.
“In 2022, we started the community advocate network and to date we have 1,200 persons across all regions who work with us. They are on the ground. They work with us, they provide information, they help reporting, they help support,” she said.
According to the Minister, the advocates play a vital role in connecting survivors to services and spreading awareness about gender-based violence in every region of the country.
However, it was also acknowledged by Minister Persaud that while progress has been made, the fight remains far from over.
“This issue of gender-based violence is so multidimensional… it will take us a long time to completely eradicate,” she noted.
Through continued collaboration with UN agencies and the strengthening of community networks, Guyana’s human services ministry continues to push forward under the Spotlight Initiative, aiming to create safer, more inclusive, and more resilient communities.
