Blog

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) condemns the recent heart wrenching and gruelling incidents of violence perpetrated against women. The GCCI reflected on the recent battering and raping, amongst other ugly actions, meted out against
two Venezuelan women as despicable and requiring immediate and strong action by those in authority and Law Enforcement agencies.

There are many other instances where violent acts against women go untold. The women of our society must feel safe and protected despite their socioeconomic status, citizenship, age or other vulnerabilities. We must never, as a nation, condone such inhumane acts or ignore their cries. We must instead lend a listening ear, offer empathy, and take swift action.

In the recently published Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Survey, 1 in every 2 Guyanese women has or will experience some form of violence in an intimate relationship. The report also indicates that 1 in every 5 Guyanese women (20%) have experienced non-partner sexual abuse in their lifetime. These alarming statistics highlight the importance of a concerted effort to address this societal ailment.

The GCCI believes that violence against women is reprehensible, and our society should not allow it to continue. We believe that prevention efforts should focus on promoting gender equality and teaching our children that all women should be treated with respect. We also believe that consistent and continued training for service providers will better equip them to handle cases of sexual offences, intimate partner violence, and other violent acts against women and children.

The GCCI does not fail to recognise individuals and Civil Society Organizations who have been working tirelessly to eliminate violence against women and girls, both privately and publicly. We continue to encourage responsible authorities to prioritise this work and deepen the collaborative efforts with the relevant agencies to ensure that we eradicate this scourge plaguing our society.

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