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Dec 05, 2015 News
‘Knowledge is power’ was the notion that was emphasised when the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Region Three Department of Education, convened a gender-based violence seminar recently.
Held at the Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara Secondary School, the forum was aimed at helping to address the issue of violence which has the potential of impacting the lives of many, including children. The forum therefore saw the attendance of 50 students drawn from the Parika-Salem, Vergenoegen and Zeeburg Secondary Schools.
Speaking at the recent forum, Regional Education Officer, Penelope McIntosh, in opening remarks encouraged the participating students to ask questions, even as she stressed the importance of them being empowered through knowledge. She urged them to embrace the Gandhian principle “Be the change you wish to see” and also stressed that males and females should strive to respect each other. She also told the students in attendance that they should not be afraid to speak out against violence.
According to Guidance and Counselling Officer, Kevin Reddy, the need to raise awareness among students was seen as crucial since situations of violence, both direct and indirectly, can impact them in a negative way.
“It can affect their learning abilities, so our aim was to educate them so they can be changed agents not only in their schools, but in their homes, and even in their communities.”
Reddy, in a presentation at the forum, spoke of the importance of education to help bring an end to gender-based violence. He appealed to the students to take every opportunity available to them, to let others know that violence cannot solve their problems.
The Guidance and Counselling Officer also highlighted the importance of “loving self, recognising healthy and unhealthy communications in the home and school”. Once persons are alert, he expressed optimism that they will be in a better position to help others with violent tendencies or those exposed to violence, to access psychological intervention in hopes of arresting the problem before it escalates.
Youth Officer, Daniela Darbarrie, explained to the students the “Orange the world” concept which is a United Nations initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls. Darbarrie is hopeful that the students in their own small way will be able to make a difference in their environments.
The main presenter at the forum was University of Guyana (UG) lecturer and Coordinator of UG’s Women’s Studies Unit, Ms Audrey Benn. She shared with the students during the half-day-long forum the categories of gender-based violence after which an interactive session ensued.
According to the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, gender-based violence is “Violence that targets individuals or groups of individuals on the basis of their gender. It includes any act which is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm. It is typically a result of unequal power relationships between males and females”.
The Convention also outlines that “Gender-based violence includes: rape, domestic violence, murder, child abuse, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women, girls and boys, harmful traditional practices including early teen marriage and forced impregnation.”
The forum was held to coincide with the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. The UN General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.
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