Dozens of young people in Antigua and Barbuda have joined the call to end gender-based violence (GBV), participating in the *Change Starts Here: Youth Against Gender-Based Violence* workshop on February 1 at the Multipurpose Cultural Centre.
Organized by the Integrated Health Outreach-Gender Based Violence Coalition (IHO-GBV), the event engaged 39 participants—mostly aged 15 to 17—in discussions on consent, healthy relationships, and recognizing abuse. Attendees also created powerful protest placards for the upcoming *Men & Women United 2025: Stop Gender-Based Violence 5K Walk* on March 8.
Counselor Karen Germain emphasized the importance of early education on GBV, stating, “We have to un-normalize this harmful behavior.” IHO’s Executive Director, Dr. Nicola Bird, highlighted plans to continue workshops leading up to the walk, aiming to reshape societal attitudes.
The initiative, backed by the Directorate of Gender Affairs, Equality Fund, and Global Affairs Canada, encourages broad community participation. Registration is now open for the March 8 event, set to coincide with International Women’s Day.
