“Overwhelming” is how organisers of the Men and Women United 2025: Stop Gender-Based Violence 5k Walk described the support for this year’s installment of what is to be an annual awareness-raising and advocacy event now in its second year.

The organisers, the Integrated Health Outreach Gender-Based Violence Coalition (IHO-GBV) in partnership with the Directorate of Gender Affairs (DoGA), estimate that more than 2000 residents of Antigua and Barbuda participated in the walk on Saturday, commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025.

Participants spoke candidly about their reasons for coming out. One woman in her forties said, “We are here to march against violence. It was important to me to come out, so I invited my coworker, and we are both here today,” while another participant, a man in his twenties, said, “Violence happens to everyone but more specifically to women because they’re often seen as less than. It’s important that people who are not directly affected by problems show their support so that those who are affected don’t feel alone.”

A woman who was proudly displaying a placard with the words “Protect our mothers sisters and daughters” offered this when asked why she chose to participate: “Too many women are being raped in Antigua, too many women and too many young girls, and I am here to support them.” A young woman in her twenties, outfitted in a cap and shades remarked, “Domestic violence and gender-based violence is a terrible thing and [a walk] like this is something we should support. Hopefully, this causes awareness and encourages others to speak out.”

All ages were represented, and there were even babies and toddlers being pushed in strollers taking part in the GBV awareness walk in Antigua on March 8th. Organisers say that around 35% of registrants indicated when signing up that they were joining as part of an organisation. Some of the largest groups included the Girls Guides with nearly 200 registrants, the Villa Primary School with a cohort of more than 90, and the Ottos Comprehensive School with more than 100. Additionally, more than 50 soldiers and cadets from the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF) joined the walk as well.

Many people came out after being encouraged by a friend, colleague, coworker or other person. That’s according to Communications Officer with Integrated Health Outreach (IHO), Kieron Murdoch. “According to our data, 33 percent of those who registered did so because they learned about it via word of mouth. I think that speaks to the power that each individual has to mobilise their own networks for a cause that is this important. The next largest bracket of registrants learned about it on social media. That was around 25 percent. In total, we had over 2,350 registrations.”

​The local sponsors and supporters of the event included Chestertons Antigua, Island Living Investment Services (ILIS), and Moongate Hotel & Spa, as well as Flow, the Ahkimo Group, Caribbean Alliance Insurance, Paparazzi Pizza, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Island Campus (FIC), the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA), Sagicor, Twist Wholesale, Beyond Limits Fitness, the Epicurean Fine Foods and Pharmacy, the First Choice Supermarket, and the the Source Clothing Store.

Representing three sponsors, Chestertons Antigua, Island Living Investment Services and Moongate Hotel & Spa, Gaye Hechme, said: “We believe in equality in respect. That is the policy that we uphold in our workplace, and we believe that in supporting this event, we are supporting the same for all spaces throughout Antigua and Barbuda. As a nation, we must adopt a zero tolerance approach when it comes to gender-based violence. That is why we are here today.”

The Men & Women United 2025: Stop Gender Based Violence Walk is a project implemented by IHO in partnership with the DoGA and supported by the Equality Fund and Global Affairs Canada. The IGO-GBV Coalition is an arm of IHO.

According to Murdoch, without the support of the DoGA, the event would not have come off with the success that it did. “We really have to say thank you to the directorate as our partners in this initiative. They mobilised their staff to support the walk. They made their offices available to support us. They got involved in every way from start to finish – the planning, the outreach, the communications, the placard making, the t-shirt distribution – they were absolutely integral to every step of the process and we look forward to strengthening the relationship going forward,” he said.

With the Antigua leg of the event complete, the organisers of the Men & Women United 2025: Stop Gender-Based Violence Walk are now looking ahead to the Barbuda leg of the event which is to happen on Saturday March 15th in Codrington Barbuda. Anyone can register for the Barbuda walk here: https://qrco.de/bfjIP7.

IHO and DoGA have announced that they are currently working towards the establishment of a shelter for women who are experiencing violence. The Men & Women United 2025: Stop Gender Based Violence 5k Walk also served as a platform to build awareness about the need for such a shelter in Antigua and Barbuda.