16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence launched by Human Services Ministry

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry will today (November 25) join the rest of the
world in kicking off 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence under the theme,
“Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”
It is an annual campaign that begins on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women (Nov 25) and runs until December 10, being Human Rights Day. The ministry said that
it was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and
continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. Used as an
organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention
and elimination of violence against women and girls, the initiative has the full support of the
ministry’s minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud. She has been credited with organising several
important and impactful activities to be conducted during this period. “It is an important period
for the Ministry annually. Following on from where we started last year, it is my intention that
there be tangible events which make an impact on communities. The slant of all our activities
will be reflective of the Ministry’s slogan ‘Enough with the Violence,” the minister said.
Dr. Persaud pointed out that as part of the community engagement, a series of panel discussions
will be held in several regions across the country with presentations by persons in the legal,
health and social work fields, survivors and advocates. She noted that the audience will comprise
of survivors, perpetrators, persons experiencing abuse and persons willing to be advocates.
Minister Persaud said that as these discussions roll out, officers from the Ministry will
simultaneously seize the opportunity to provide information about services available at the
Ministry. “Sometimes people are not aware of the avenues of support that exist within the
Ministry. Officers will be on hand to provide this kind of information,” Dr. Persaud stressed.
Minister Persaud pointed out that of the 16 Days of Activism would be the launching of ‘I CAN’
(Community Advocate Network) by the Ministry – a brand new programme that will encourage
a robust and vibrant network across the country, where people encourage each other, help
persons to seek help, and report issues to the Ministry in a timely way so that action can be
taken. She said that among the other initiatives by her Ministry during this period would be the
launch of  Paint for Purpose, the launch of the ‘Orange the World’ filter on Facebook, and a
moment of silence, pledge and candle lighting for those who died due to domestic violence,
Media events, book launches and much more. The Ministry will also be lit up in orange from
tomorrow in observance of the period.  A calendar of events will be available in the media.
Minister Persaud noted that the Ministry will further use this period to amplify the work of the
914 hotline number as an important part of its fight against domestic violence. She declared that
details about these and other activities during the 16 Days of Activism can be found on the
Ministry’s Facebook Page.