HGP Nightly News – Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud says reports of sexual abuse are down slightly for the early part of 2026 when compared with the same period last year, but she is cautioning against reading that change too simply, arguing that the figures only make sense when placed against the wider pattern of reporting over the last several years.
According to Persaud, early 2026 figures show a drop of “at least 30” cases compared with the corresponding period in 2025. But she said that shift should not be interpreted in isolation, especially since the country has seen major changes in how abuse is reported, understood and supported over time.
Looking back over the longer trend, Persaud said annual reports between 2019 and 2020 were just above 130 cases, while from 2021 to 2025 the number moved much higher, ranging roughly between 200 and 240 cases per year. In her view, that increase did not necessarily mean sexual abuse suddenly became more common. Rather, she said it reflected the fact that more people were finally able and willing to report what was happening to them.
The minister said one of the biggest turning points came after 2021, when the Government introduced more reporting avenues and support systems. She pointed to the 914 hotline, the iMatter app, the Hope and Justice Centre and stronger coordination with the Guyana Police Force as part of what helped bring more victims into contact with the system. “There was a big push to report,” Persaud said, explaining that many people had previously stayed silent because they did not believe anything would happen if they came forward.
She added that the increase in reporting was seen across different groups, not only among women and girls. More men, seniors and children also began making reports, which she said is another reason why the numbers have to be interpreted carefully. In her view, an increase in reports can sometimes point not just to abuse itself, but to stronger awareness, more trust in the system and easier access to help.
Persaud also linked the reporting trend to public education, saying many people had not fully understood what qualifies as sexual assault under the law. “People don’t understand sometimes when they say no, it is no,” she said. She explained that sexual assault includes inappropriate or sexual touching without consent, or asking one person to touch another without consent. “The big thing there is without consent,” she added.
Against that backdrop, the ministry is continuing to invest in awareness and reporting mechanisms. Persaud said a new national campaign this year will focus on “understanding the power of no,” particularly in schools and other institutions. She also said the iMatter app has now been upgraded and includes a live chat feature, making it easier for people to seek help discreetly if they cannot or do not want to make a call.
For Persaud, the central point is that sexual abuse statistics cannot be separated from the systems that shape whether people feel able to report at all. In her view, the slight drop in reports early this year may be important, but the larger story lies in how awareness, access and public confidence have changed the reporting landscape in Guyana over time.
