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December 27, 2025
December 27, 2025
December 27, 2025
As Guyana continues its annual 16 Days of Activism campaign against violence toward women, officials urged women affected by domestic abuse to explore legal options and called for collective efforts to prevent violence.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, said that apart from obtaining a protection order from the court, women can also apply for an occupation order to remain in their residence while excluding the perpetrator.
“You can get a temporary order for maintenance for you and your children, a temporary order for custody for your children. I know a lot of people are very worried. What if I leave? I got to leave my kids with him. Or this is his house, I’ll be on the streets. That is not entirely true. There are many remedies that you can pursue, that the court system will allow you to pursue,” she said.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, said that preventing and intervening in cases of violence is a shared responsibility. She stressed that the visibility of the Ministry’s services is crucial not only for survivors, but also as a signal of the government’s commitment to ending violence against women, men, and children.
“Because people need to take responsibility for what is happening. This battle and this fight against violence cannot be a solitary one, nor can we work in silos, where it is only the purview of the Ministry of Human Services, or Home Affairs, or any of the other agencies. This is something that all people across the country need to be aware of, look for the red flags, know when it happens, what you can do, what support and services are available, how you can contribute towards making your environment, community homes, and other spaces safer, how even if you are experiencing violence, you know that you’re not walking this alone, that the entire country has an involvement— that there are services available to support you,” she said.
Dr Persaud added that while the campaign highlights violence annually, efforts must continue every day and involve sustained community engagement.
