Spotlight Initiative Guyana supporting development in Region 7

The Amerindian village of Batavia in Region Seven in Guyana’s hinterland is reachable from the nearest town of Bartica by boat. This remote hinterland community was host, on 16 March, to the highest-level European official to ever visit Guyana. During her brief two-day state visit to Guyana, Deputy Secretary General of the European Union’s External Action Service Helena KÖNIG, dedicated a whole day to Batavia to interact with this welcoming Amerindian village and to learn about how the community is fighting against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) under the Spotlight Initiative program.

Hon. Pauline Sukhai, Guyana’s Minister of Amerindian Affairs; Rene Van Nes, the EU Ambassador to Guyana; Yeşim Oruç, the UN Resident Coordinator; and representatives of UNICEF and UNDP were all on deck along with Ayo Dalgety-Dean, the CEO and staff of Blossom Inc., the Spotlight Initiative Implementing Partner in Batavia.

The EU’s top diplomats met with local officials and engaged with residents in the community and members from the Batavia Mountain Movers youth group and the Batavia Women’s Group. The delegation was also treated to cultural presentations.

Addressing the residents and the leaders of Batavia, Ms. KÖNIG underlined the importance of partnerships for the long-term success of the Spotlight Initiative. Noting that tackling GBV will take a collective effort, she said “it has to be a cooperation between men and women, boys and girls and it has to start very early. It is extremely important…and it’s something that we will have to continue to work on. We’re not perfect everywhere, but I think the important thing is the direction that we are going in together.”

Emphasizing the shared values between the European Union, the United Nations and the Government of Guyana, the EU’s Ambassador to Georgetown Rene Van Nes also highlighted  how important the work being done in Batavia and Guyana as a whole is to the EU. “The European Union really cares about values. We really care about making sure that people not only within the European Union, but within the rest of the world can live a life in dignity. And that is why the European Union decided to finance the Spotlight project which is funded in many countries in the world, including Guyana,” he said.

The UN family led by the Resident Coordinator echoed the messages of partnership and commended the Toshao and other village representatives for their work. “What brings us all together here today is the Spotlight Initiative, the world’s largest investment in eliminating the scourge of Gender-Based Violence; the world’s largest investment by the European Union with support of the United Nations to work around the world and here in Batavia. You join a community of activists and people and governments who are working to eliminate the scourge…women’s right to life is a human right, and we all have a role to call it out and to prevent it,” she said. 

Speaking to the broader goals of her Government in bridging development disparities in Guyana, Minister Sukhai acknowledged the importance of international partnerships and how they find concrete form in Amerindian villages across Guyana. Highlighting the many programs of her Government, she added, “as we cooperate at a national level, we are a member of the United Nations and we are also receiving a lot of support from friendly nations, including those of the European Union…Together I believe that Guyana has a very aspiring future as a country for its people, its children and for the youth.” Emphasizing that domestic violence has been in her Government’s agenda for some time, she added, “I understand, like everyone who is involved in this work, what it takes to move this scourge out of society. I]t’s a big task and it’s a work in progress.” She further encouraged Blossom Inc. to continue the good work that it has started in Batavia to raise awareness and provide tools for solutions to GBV at the local level.

Blossom Inc. is one of UN’s civil society partners under the Spotlight Initiative. It has been working closely with Batavia and other hinterland communities to help mitigate social problems such as substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy, and violence against women and children.

Work conducted with the community under the Spotlight Initiative includes sensitization sessions with village leaders, women and girls and other stakeholders; mobilization of community members through forming the Gatekeepers Group, the Boys and Girls Club and the Batavia Mountain Movers; and conducting awareness sessions and capacity building activities.

By engaging with the community and developing partnerships with local stakeholders, the work being conducted under the Spotlight Initiative is helping to build momentum for change and drive progress towards a more equal and just society for all.

About the Spotlight Initiative

The Spotlight Initiative is a global initiative of the United Nations which has received generous support from the European Union. Its aim is to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Its investments across more than 25 countries are addressing legislative and policy gaps, strengthening institutions, promoting gender-equitable attitudes, and providing quality services for survivors. Interventions are also strengthening systems for collecting data on violence against women and girls and women’s movements. Learn more at www.spotlightinitiative.org.