| Executive Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Frederick Cox, has noted that there is nowhere in Guyana where domestic violence and spousal and child abuse cannot be found.During a press conference, yesterday at the GRPA’s headquarters in Quamina Street, the Executive Director noted that the issue is widespread in the country.“What we see in the media from time to time is like the tip of the iceberg… It is a serious issue, and the GRPA has taken the initiative to be involved in this exercise,” Cox told reporters.Taking the seriousness of the issue, he noted that the GRPA has now included the topic of domestic violence in their parenting programs, so as to keep the issue on the font burner in order to motivate persons to become educated about the topic.He urged governmental and non-governmental organisations, along with the private and public sectors and civil society, to come on board,Authentic Arizona Cardinals Jersey, as it is only then there would be a positive impact in relation to what is taking place with domestic violence in Guyana.Cox is of the belief that the genesis of all the problems is the family. In this regard, he noted, there is a significant increase in the number of single-parent women-headed households.He is of the view that single women are not capable of doing as good a job, in terms of training and guiding the child in the right way, as a male or her partner could have. “If all is well in the home, we will see a significant reduction of social ills in our society,” Cox said.He pointed to the increase in the number of young criminals in the country, and once again reiterated that one of the reasons for that is the absence of the father from the family.The GRPA Director noted that when the father is present, the child would have a role model.In the case of a single mother, it was explained that, due to the busy schedule of the mother, there is no parental supervision, thus the children are left unguided.Former executive director of the GRPA, Beverly Braithwaite, expressed similar sentiments. She, too, noted that the fact remains that women cannot mentor boys. She noted that single mothers do try their best.The GRPA noted that the ‘Men of Purpose’ Organization is on the move. It has taken a new initiative of moving around the country in order to educate men on how to treat women. With this new initiative, the GRPA is hoping that there would be a decrease in domestic violence in Guyana.However, it was noted that this new organisation is already facing some challenges relative to finance.It was explained that the group of men moving around the country needs money to do so, and thus far, Fox said, the GRPA has been unable to convince donor agencies to donate money in this regard.Programme director of the GRPA, Sheila Fraser, said that the organisation is trying to have men work with other men on a gender equality project, so that they can understand the issues of domestic violence and the serious impact it has on society.The project will be held in collaboration with the UNFPA and the GRPA. |
