EU/UN Spotlight Initiative supports the Foundations Programme in Regions 6 and 7, Guyana

Hon. Dr Vindhya Persaud- Minister in the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security presents the certificate of completion to a participant. UN Women Photo/Trevor Smith

The UN Women gender-based violence prevention initiative for young people aged 13 to 24, Foundations Programme, took another step forward in implementation under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative in Guyana.

More than 80 participants from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), schools, community groups, faith-based organisations, and government entities such as the Guyana Police Force completed the Training of Trainer workshops held May 15-18, 2023, in Region 6 and July 4-7, 2023 in Region 7.

Group of participants from Region 6. UN Women Photo/Trevor Smith

Led by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO)- Caribbean, the programme forms part of the activities organized under the Spotlight Initiative, which is funded by the  European Union (EU), and implemented by the United Nations, in partnership with the Government, and civil society organisations in Guyana to implement solutions to accelerate action towards eliminating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), specifically violence against women and girls within the context of family violence.

Participants present on Day 1 of the Foundations Programme in Region 6. UN Women Photo/Trevor Smith

Planning and Coordination Specialist, UN Women MCO – Caribbean, Ms. Je’nille Maraj said: “In partnership with the Ministry, we were able to equip 85 facilitators in the hinterland communities to continue to implement programming to address the root causes of GBV, through critical thinking about gender, gender socialization, hierarchies and constructs and intersectional inequalities which lead to violence, and embedding actions which change attitudes and behaviour. Local partnerships and capacity building within communities is especially critical for sustainable action toward safer, more peaceful and cohesive communities in which women and girls live lives free from violence.”

The programme was facilitated by Manager of the Gender Affairs Bureau, Mr Adel Lilly. UN Women Photo/Trevor Smith

Facilitated by Manager of the Gender Affairs Bureau, Mr Adel Lilly and Senior Gender Affairs Officer, Mr. Jairo Rodrigues, both from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the participants were able to deepen their understanding of gender constructs and pervasive cultural norms that perpetuate inequalities; and focused on strengthening the prevention approaches employed to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and HIV discrimination.

In an interview at the workshop in Berbice, Mr Lilly said: “The Foundations programme is an important element in preventing gender-based violence because it addresses some fundamental things that must be addressed. For example, what role culture plays in preventing or promoting gender-based violence? Not only does the programme look at what should be done after violence occurs, but it seeks to address the issues that can prevent GBV and that is most important.”

Senior Gender Affairs Officer, Mr. Jairo Rodrigues, from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. UN Women Photo/Trevor Smith

Though some of the participants may have possessed conceptual knowledge of GBV with backgrounds in sexual and reproductive health, human rights advocacy, work with marginalized communities, or victims/survivors of GBV, the workshops provided specialized training to implement the 12-week psycho-educational programme at a community level.

Detective Constable Keisha Deane Smith, Guyana Police Force. UN Women Photo/Trevor Smith

Guyana is the second Caribbean country currently implementing the Foundations Programme under Pillar 3, the Prevention Pillar of the Spotlight Initiative that focuses on gender inequitable social norms, attitudes and behaviours change at community and individual levels to prevent violence against women and girls and harmful practices.

Ending violence against women is everyone’s business. The UN Women Foundations Programme is one approach being used by the Spotlight Initiative in Guyana to accelerate collective action to help the most vulnerable and address the drivers of violence against women and girls.

For more information on the Foundations Programme, please visit: https://caribbean.unwomen.org/en/materials/publications/2018/11/foundations-programme#view