By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has revealed that from 2020 to the present, 96 persons have lost their lives as a result of domestic violence across Guyana.
During an interview on Friday, Dr. Persaud provided a detailed breakdown of the figures, noting that:
- 2020: 19 cases
- 2021: 18 cases
- 2022: 20 cases
- 2023: 23 cases
- 2024–2025 (to date): 12 cases per year
“In the last two years, we have seen a decrease in the number of partner-related cases — 12 last year and 12 to date,” Dr. Persaud said.
She further explained that during the COVID-19 period, Guyana recorded a sharp rise in both child abuse and domestic violence, which mirrored a global trend of increased vulnerability during lockdowns.
Another troubling pattern, according to the Minister, is the rise in murder-suicide cases involving intimate partners. These incidents, she said, are being carefully analyzed to identify psychological and social triggers.
Dr. Persaud also highlighted key provisions of the Family Violence Act of 2024, which allows survivors to remain in their homes while perpetrators are legally required to leave. However, she lamented that some victims return to abusive partners, while others face repeat attacks due to breaches of protection orders.
“We’ve been advocating for higher penalties and harsher sentencing. In the future, some of these offences may no longer attract bail,” she stated.
Emphasizing that gender-based violence is a multi-dimensional problem, the Minister said her ministry has trained over 1,200 community advocates across all ten regions to help survivors report abuse, access support, and rebuild their lives.
While women remain the majority of victims — accounting for 80 percent of reported cases — Dr. Persaud acknowledged that male victimization is on the rise, with 333 men having reported abuse this year alone — the highest figure recorded in recent years.
“Violence affects both men and women. Our goal is to ensure every survivor — regardless of gender — has access to justice, safety, and support,” she affirmed.
