The Guyana Bar Association(GBA) is playing its role in seeking justice for victims affected by Gender-Based Violence. It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Human Service and Social Security to represent some 500 victims for free.
GBA President, Pauline Chase, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Shannielle Hoosein-Outar, signed the MOU paving the way for the programme to begin.
With over 3000 cases this year alone with the imprint of Gender Base Violence, the GBA is set to play its role in reducing the impact by having a pool of lawyers ranging from Senior Counsel to Junior Counsel to represent victims of gender-based violence for free.
Dubbed the Legal Pro bono 500 initiative, the programme stands as part of the ministry “I CAN (Community Advocate Network)” pledge network that supports the ending of gender-based violence
Speaking after the signing, Minister of Human Service, Vindhya Vasini Persaud, said that even though there are various methods to curb the trend, access to justice remains a question mark in most instances. This programme will help.
“If we look at the broader structure of our service delivery, as it relates to gender-based violence, domestic violence in all of its dimensions, it is imperative that we also have a practical solution that can be considered low-hanging fruit.
“Access to justice is an important and significant aspect to curb what we see right across our country and that is the steady stream of people seeking access to justice and for one reason or another not being able to achieve that in a timely manner or not at all.”
The Minister added that the programme was thought of after there have been numerous complaints to the ministry about not being able to access the service of lawyers. Money is often the problem.
The Minister said that she had reached out to the GBA for help and the response was tremendous, which essentially led to the GBA giving its full support.
Minister Persaud added that while there are other areas to deal with at least for now, those who lack financial backing could feel that they have the legal support.
“For me, resolution means many things all the way to prosecution and then even looking further on to rehabilitation. Perhaps we all speak of restorative justice. That’s another conversation but at least women, men, boys, and girls should feel they have the kind of legal support that they need,” Minister Persaud said.
Gender-based violence has been a factor that plagued society for many years. In some instances, it led to even death.
Most children and women are affected by the issue. It has been noted through research that over time one in three women suffer from this issue in their lifetime — unacceptable statistics.
President of the GBA, Pauline Chase, said that we must always push back and fight, and by way of fighting through the law, the GBA is playing its role and is pleased to be a part.
“At the Bar Association od Guyana we are happy to lend our assistance in this fight against gender-based violence, as officers of the court, we are duty-bound to so do.”
“The initiative being launched today is one part of a series of actions you would have noted in our society to fight gender-based violence. It is one part of a bigger machine and when all the parts are put together provides a cohesive and complete approach at all levels of the system to tackle this surge,” Ms. Chase said.
From today and for the next year those willing to access legal assistance will apply through the Ministry in which there will be a referral process to the GBA on a case-to-case basis, she said.
To ensure that this Initiative is effectively managed and is sustainable, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has engaged the United Nations Population Fund under the Spotlight Initiative, the global initiative funded by the European Union to end violence against women and girls worldwide.
This body will provide funding and technical support through the establishment of a legal pro-bono referral department within the Ministry of Human Services.
