Hundreds join walk to combat gender-based violence

Hundreds of participants took part in the Stride Against Silence walk and Cinema with a Cause event on Sunday, underscoring a strong national call to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Guyana.

Led by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, the walk—from the Kitty Roundabout to the Kingston Seawall Bandstand—signalled a collective demand for a safer and more compassionate society.

A programme of open discussion on GBV set the tone for a series of short films portraying real-life accounts of abuse, survival, and recovery.

Delivering remarks, Dr. Persaud described the national toll of domestic violence as “devastating.” She stressed that while systems and services continue to expand, long-term change is necessary.

“I remember last year when I saw that we had a 33 percent reduction in domestic murders. I was cautiously optimistic. But I did not celebrate. You know why? Because it can happen. And it does happen when you least expect it. And this year we are almost double that number. And it also says something. No matter how many systems and services you put in place, it’s the people that you have to change. The way they think. The way they see themselves and others,“ she stressed.

The minister also highlighted the continued growth of the 914 hotline, which has received more than 10,000 calls so far this year. She said many survivors remain fearful of reporting, and initiatives such as the upgraded iMatter Counselor app aim to provide safer avenues for help.

“Children are left without parents. Children are left to moan and weep. Many times the children are not seen. But they hear, they feel, they hurt, and many times they blame themselves for what is happening between their parents,” Dr. Persaud noted.

The app now offers live chat with counsellors, legal advisors, and support personnel, and will undergo further enhancements in 2026.

Speaking on behalf of the Guyana Association of Women Judges (GAWJ), Justice Crystal Lambert reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to supporting national efforts against the scourge.

“This effort is in alignment with one of the core mandates of our association, which is to support and partner with programmes and activities that discourage violence, especially gender-based violence in our society. Violence against women remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world, with one in three women being victims of violence. So we see the importance of why activism is necessary and all voices of influence need to lend their voice and lend their support,” she said.

Justice Lambert also highlighted one of the GAWJ’s major initiatives for the year—a nationwide creative arts competition aimed at raising awareness of gender-based violence among students. The winning entries went on to represent Guyana at a regional competition hosted by the Caribbean Association of Women Judges, where two of the local participants also placed in the top three.