The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in partnership with the EU funded-Spotlight Initiative, launched the ‘Foundations Programme: Strengthening Prevention Approaches To Address Gender-Based Violence In the Caribbean’ on September 21, 2021 recognised as International Day of Peace.  The programme is organized under the Spotlight Initiative which was created in partnership with the United Nations, European Union (EU), the Government, and CSOs 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. The Foundations Programme is aimed at targeting youth aged 13 to 24 to become advocates for the prevention of Gender-Based Violence. The programme will support participants in understanding how to address the root causes of GBV such as socially and culturally bound concepts of the values placed on women and men, in their personal lives as well as socially. During the launch, the Honourable Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud called on all key stakeholders, including youths in the wider society, to become advocates of non-violent interactions, equipped with the necessary skills to address violence against women and girls which will result in transformative impact on sustainable development. She added: “This means that very neatly the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle (GBV Intervention Programmes) are falling into place and that's important because for us to truly get to the root cause of gender-based violence and have impact in a tangible way in our country, all of these pieces need to be there and for these pieces to be effective, all stakeholders need to be equipped with a deep understanding of their roles and how to effectively collaborate to become passionate advocates and passionate workers in this monumental task.” Recent data pinpoint that gender-based violence and more specifically, intimate partner violence (IPV) is pervasive in Guyana with more than one in every 2 women (55%) in Guyana between the ages of 16 to 64, experiencing IPV in their lifetime, which is more than the global average of 1 in every 3 women (30%). The recently appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator, Yesim Oruc reiterated the urgent need to tackle GBV at all ages, especially in youths, considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in spikes in reported violence against women and children. She said: “Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Survey 2018 highlighted that solutions must result in behavioral change in both men and women especially since women themselves identify with beliefs which perpetuate inequality and increase the risk of suffering and violence. The prevention pillar recognizes that tackling these beliefs at the root requires investments beyond sensitization [but] it needs us to look at this [gender-based violence] in a multi-pronged approach focusing on the individual, relationships, families, communities and the society.” The launch of the Foundations Programme kicked off with the Training of Trainers component to equip twenty-one facilitators with the capacity to implement the 12-module curriculum at the community level. Representative of the UN Women Multi Country Office – Caribbean, Tonni Brodber further explained the background and the expected outcomes of the programme. She outlined that: “The Foundations Programme was developed in 2017 by UN Women MCO – Caribbean, with the support of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust in response to the increasing calls for the development and scaling up of gender-responsive violence prevention programmes for young people. The Programme is based on teaching concepts and techniques that help to challenge harmful and hierarchical gender norms, values and attitudes and encourage the adoption of social and cultural norms and values which emulate gender equality, respect, justice, fairness, open communication and healthy relationships.” Given the unacceptably high incidence of gender-based violence in Guyana before COVID-19 and the pandemic’s further impact on the risks for women and girls in this crisis situation, the Foundations Programme is a key step in eradicating social norms that perpetuate GBV in all its forms. Brodber added: “The culture of a society is a very powerful source of influence in shaping how we feel about ourselves and one another. All people in a given community contribute to how we engage and value each other, especially women and girls.” The programme will also provide practical approaches to achieving the six (6) key objectives outlined in the curriculum: Empower young people to understand GBV and its genesis in gender inequalities and gender-based discrimination. Promote an understanding of the consequences of GBV to partner(s), children, communities and societies in general. Endow young people with knowledge, skills and attitudes for addressing conflict and responding to stress and stressors that arise in relationships. Establish and model an atmosphere of respect within group relations among and between young people. Promote self-sufficiency among young people in taking steps towards improving their relationships and their lives. Create a network of young people who will advocate for non-violent relationships. 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. For more information on the Foundations Programme, please visit: https://caribbean.unwomen.org/en/materials/publications/2018/11/foundations-programme#view In the words of the Honourable Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud: “When we have the knowledge, when we have the wisdom and when we have all the tools and equipment at our disposal, we must use them to empower people to be transformative.”    

Ms. Oruc brings more than 20 years of experience in international relations and sustainable development to her new role. At the United Nations, she held leadership positions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including, most recently, a senior role at the UNDP Representation Office in Washington D.C., USA where she managed key organizational strategies and partnerships. She also served as UNDP Country Director in Albania and led programme and partnership initiatives for UNDP country operations in Romania as well as Turkey. Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Oruc worked as a copy editor in Cairo, Egypt. She holds a master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies from the American University in Cairo, Egypt and a bachelor’s degree in political science and comparative governments from Yale University in Connecticut, USA.

The programme will also highlight Afro descendant women’s role and contribution to sustainable development through cultural exchanges, knowledge sharing and movement-building. The announcement of this initiative came as part of activities to launch UN Women’s new Global Black Women Programme where Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi moderated a panel discussion of black women creatives, entitled ‘“Ain’t I a Woman”: Black Women, Creativity and Development”. It was sponsored by UN Women MCO-Caribbean, in collaboration with NYU Africa House, UNESCO, and the EU-funded UNESCO-Transcultura Programme. Representative UN Women MCO Caribbean Tonni Brodber explained the goal of the new project: “We will contribute to enhancing the economic empowerment and resilience of women-and youth owned cultural and creative MSMEs through strengthened networks and opportunities for employability and entrepreneurship in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa; through strengthened digital transformation, financial management and basic and advanced digital technologies skills for women in the cultural and creative industries (including art, design, music, film, beauty) with particular focus on marginalized and economically disempowered groups.” “At UN Women and UNESCO, we felt the need to be even more intentional and imaginative about our work to recognise and promote justice and development. We developed a project with the goal being, that Afro-descendent and ethnic minority women, men and youth are empowered through greater voice and agency, and resilient livelihoods to live free from violence and discrimination,” Ms. Brodber added. Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, Ms. Saadia Sanchez-Vegas said: “This partnership programme harnesses the potential of culture and creativity to empower youth, women and men to transcend borders and build communities across the Caribbean, the African Continent and the entire African diaspora.” Panellist, South African Carol Bouwer, Founder of Mbokodo Awards for Women in the Arts stressed that the world has not yet begun to understand that black women are a larger part of society whose creativity should be seen as creativity within the broader conversation of art, heritage and culture.   “Historically, we do not look at the intersection between art and the environment, the economy, society and the cultural diversity that carries communities together… Black people in particular, not just black women, we constantly have to apologise each time we come into spaces where we choose to talk about building each other. I am hoping that this healing space, this space of beauty and vibrant art will remind us that we have to be seen, we have to be able to celebrate ourselves and we have to be able to say to the world acknowledge me”. Sierre Leone and Canadian filmmaker, Ngardy Conteh said there is a huge gap in opportunities for black women to thrive: “We don’t want to just to survive, we want to thrive. We have the creativity, and our creativity can only blossom when we have the space and the resources to do so. There needs to be an increase in opportunities. UN Women also hosted a global art exhibition and online auction in New York City, featuring 25 women artists of African descent. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to the artists, while the other fifty percent will support implementation of the UN Women’s Afro-descendant Women’s Programme.                                                                                                                                                                                30. About UN Women UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.   About UNESCO UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation and inter-cultural dialogue through programmes in Education, the Sciences and Culture.  

Ms. Tanaka joined the UN System in Guyana in August 2016. From 2016 to 2018 she was the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Resident Coordinator. In 2019, as part of global UN Reforms, Ms. Tanaka left her position as UNDP Resident Representative to concentrate on the wider responsibilities of the Resident Coordinator for the whole UN System in Guyana. During her tenure in Guyana Ms. Tanaka led the implementation of the first ever Caribbean Multi-country Sustainable Development Framework (MSDF), a development partnership that supports Guyana in the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Ms. Tanaka has deployed the UN System in Guyana to address challenges faced during the 2020 national and regional elections, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to support people directly affected by flooding and forced migration. With the European Union, she has enabled Guyana’s inclusion in the global Spotlight Initiative, which aims to eliminate violence against women. Ms. Tanaka has maintained the closest strategic relations between the UN and successive Guyanese governments since 2016, supporting them in strategic planning, helping them prepare for the effects of the unfolding climate emergency, and highlighting the challenges faced by some of Guyana’s poorest and most marginalized communities. Ms. Tanaka has worked tirelessly to ensure that the United Nations system supports Guyana to protect human rights, preserve democracy, and ensure that no-one, regardless of their circumstances, status or identity, is left behind from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ms. Tanaka’s successor will be announced in another release.