Home Affairs supports efforts to end domestic abuse
– joins Bridge Builders, Spotlight Initiative in ‘orange’ campaign
Staff at the Ministry of Home Affairs wore orange masks and jerseys to show their support of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s 16 days of activism to eliminate gender-based violence. The campaign ended on Thursday.
The masks were worn specifically to support the launch of the Human Services Ministry 914 hotline for persons experiencing domestic abuse. The Ministry partnered with UNICEF, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Digicel Guyana and the Guyana Telecommunications Agency to create the toll-free hotline.
Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Ms. Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas said the police have committed to responding promptly to calls from the hotline.
Other entities also threw their support behind the initiative. The United Bridge Builders Mission (UBBM) Incorporated collaborated with Spotlight Initiative on a ‘Drive-By Awareness Initiative’.
The Drive-by started at Golden Grove, proceeded west along the East Coast Public Road to central Georgetown then stopped at the Seawalls Bandstand. A small ceremony was held at the bandstand, and a large orange bow signed to symbolise the end of gender-based violence.
The convoy then travelled to the Ministry of Home Affairs where UBBM representatives presented the Permanent Secretary her with a baton to symbolise the partnership to end violence.
Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations (UN) to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, the UN says. On October 31, during the virtual launch of the activity in Guyana, the EU announced that it would be contributing €4.5M or $1B towards Guyana’s efforts to tackle gender-based and family violence over three years. Guyana is one of six Caribbean countries to benefit from the initiative.