Children and young women remain the groups most affected by sexual violence in Guyana, with authorities recording an average of about 1,200 cases annually over the past five years.
This is according to data presented by Dr Cona Husbands of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit.
Presenting an overview of national sexual violence trends and response systems, Husbands said reported cases in 2025 showed a slight decline, but that overall levels of gender-based violence had remained largely unchanged since 2020.
The figures showed that females accounted for about 94 per cent of reported victims, while males represented between 5 per cent and 6 per cent of cases. Most incidents involved victims under the age of 18.
The data also indicated that perpetrators were overwhelmingly male, with many offences involving individuals known to victims, including relatives and school-associated contacts.
Region Three and Region Six together accounted for nearly half of all reported cases nationwide, while reporting levels in other regions were generally lower, according to the presentation.
Husbands also noted increased reporting from Indigenous communities, particularly in Region Nine, which has emerged as one of the more active reporting regions in recent years.
The presentation outlined measures aimed at strengthening the national response to sexual and gender-based violence, including expanded coordination among government agencies, police, health services and civil society organisations.
Authorities have also developed a centralised referral system intended to connect survivors with law enforcement, medical care, shelters and counselling services.
A 24-hour national hotline, launched in 2020, has received more than 2,000 reports to date, while more than 4,000 police officers have been trained in survivor-centred approaches, alongside 1,200 healthcare workers and thousands of teachers, guidance counsellors and community stakeholders across the country.
Husbands said the initiatives were intended to improve prevention efforts, strengthen reporting systems and provide more accessible support services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
