Miss World Guyana takes Gender-based Violence advocacy to T&T

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

Miss World Guyana 2013, Ruqayyah Boyer is in Trinidad and Tobago speaking out against Bullying & Gender Based Violence.

Boyer, an Ambassador for the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA), is looking to increase international awareness on the issue and is advocating for a Domestic Violence Policy in Guyana that does not fail its victims.

At least three women and two children have been brutally killed and others severely injured in the last two weeks by the men in their lives. The Guyana government in 2008 formulated a domestic violence policy but it has come in for criticism with advocates saying little has been done on the implementation front.

A release from Boyers’ camp said this latest violence could be viewed as a result of a non-functional system.

Boyer’s involvement in bringing awareness to violence on a whole with a focus on bullying as well as violence against women and children started over a year ago and has now fully evolved into a more global platform and personal passion it added.

The Miss World Pageant consists of over eight segments one of which “Beauty With a Purpose” requires each contestant to submit a video presentation on the work they have been doing as an ambassador for their country.

Boyer started her Beauty with a Purpose project on these issues by joining forces with CADVA and the Irene Madray’s Recreational Arts and Resources Center (IMRARC) while in Guyana preparing for the Miss World pageant before taking her campaign to Trinidad.

A series of events began on August 6 and will run until August 12 in Trinidad under the theme: “UNITE TO INSPIRE: EDUCATION CREATES ACCEPTANCE”while there will be the launch of “Operation BUILD-BOARD” in partnership with IMRARC and the Miss World Guyana Organisation aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Caribbean children.

The Miss World Pageant is scheduled to run from September 3 to September 28.