-tells participants at closing of domestic violence conference

Georgetown, GINA, June 25, 2008

The two-day conference on the elimination of domestic violence against women and children ended this afternoon with Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand urging participants after their intense training and deliberation on the domestic violence policy to ‘walk the talk’.
The conference sought to raise the level of awareness of service-providers and civil society for increased collaboration in the implementation of the National Policy, with special emphasis on the elimination of violence against women and children.
“Let’s not keep the policies on papers but make them a reality to stop this issue in the society especially among our children who are tomorrow’s future,” Minister Manickchand asserted.
She noted that it is opportune for everyone to become serious on this matter which really needs to be addressed at the level of the society. Minister Manickchand reiterated that government alone cannot make the polices possible but the participation and involvement of all is required.
The domestic violence conference is a preparatory exercise for the implementation of the National Policy on Domestic Violence which was launched on June 11. The National Policy contains proposed measures to eliminate domestic violence in the society especially among women and children.
The participants from the 10 administrative regions at today’s sessions recommended further amendements to the policies.
The overall outputs of the Conference are to have a collaborative framework for the implementation of the Domestic violence policy, development of protocols for professional groups dealing with survivors of domestic violence and child abuse and the setting up of action committees within the 10 administrative regions in keeping with the domestic violence policy and the protection of children.
Major emphasis was placed on hinterland regions especially where there are limited resources in the communities to deal with domestic violence.
The United Nations Children’s Fund Deputy Representative, Deguene Fall said that she will ensure efforts are made to eliminate this constraint in Amerindian communities by involving her Agencies directly to work hand-in-hand with residents.
Minister Manickchand said she is confident that the measures will be implemented and is in no doubt that they will be workable to eliminate domestic violence.
She urged the participants to return to their communities and put the knowledge acquired into practice.