Sports organisations benefit from sensitisation and awareness training on Gender-Based Violence and Diversity issues

Coaches, players, and executive members from the Guyana Football Federation and the Guyana Cricket Board received sensitisation and awareness training on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and diversity-related issues under the European Union (EU)/United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative. The sessions were organized as part of the ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which lasted from November 25-December 10.

Members of the two premier sports organisations engaged in discussions around  Understanding GBV, Understanding Masculinities and Violence, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy which could help to address how persons deal with bias and develop a tolerance for persons with differences within their social groups. Representatives from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and gender experts from Spotlight Implementing Partner (IP) Merundoi Inc. facilitated the sessions with the understanding that the participants would take the information back to their teams to continue awareness on these issues.

The content aimed at addressing traditional concepts and beliefs about masculinity and gender roles and how they play a part in gender-based violence. Other aspects of the sessions also looked at the legal framework in Guyana that addresses the protection of human rights such as Guyana’s Constitution and other legislation, like The Equal Rights Act (1990), the Domestic Violence Act (1996), the Prevention of Discrimination Act (1997), the Protection of Children Act (2009) and Sexual Offences Act (2010).

Engaging with sports clubs is important to the SI’s overall goal of holistically addressing gender-based violence while promoting better gender relations and cooperation among boys and girls in sport. 

Both organisations expressed their commitment to ensuring that tenets of tolerance, inclusion and equality are promoted within their organisations and also called for continued sessions to be hosted in order to ensure that the message is consistently shared with all stakeholders.