By Celestine Chacon | January 14, 2025
At her ministry’s year-end press conference, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, announced a significant milestone in combating domestic violence in Guyana, revealing a 33% reduction in murders linked to domestic violence in 2024.
This reduction is attributed to various initiatives and improvements in the country’s response to gender-based violence.
The 912-hotline, a critical tool in this effort, received over 14,000 calls last year, 293 of which were directly related to domestic violence.
This hotline allowed for timely interventions and better monitoring of violent incidents throughout the country.
Dr. Persaud highlighted the creation of a comprehensive model to respond to gender-based violence, stating, “Guyana for the first time has a comprehensive model to respond to gender-based violence… we saw a decrease in the murders related to domestic violence by 33 percent, and it speaks to a lot of the work we are doing which includes our 912 hotline.”
Minister Persaud also discussed the work of the Hope and Justice Centre, which provides victims of domestic violence with essential services like counselling and legal aid.
The ministry’s partnership with the Guyana Bar Association has seen the Legal Pro Bono Unit handle 500 cases annually, with thousands more benefiting from legal advice and support.
Additionally, Dr. Persaud spoke about the introduction of the Family Violence Act of 2024, a new legal framework aimed at addressing both civil and criminal matters related to family violence.
She reaffirmed her ministry’s ongoing commitment to reducing domestic violence and enhancing support systems for victims.