More needs to be done about domestic/sexual violence

Dear Editor,

2011 has started very badly for women and children in Guyana. Two women have already been murdered by their male partners; another woman lies in hospital seriously injured from multiple stab wounds inflicted by her partner; an 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a police officer at the BV Police Station; a nine-year-old boy allegedly committed suicide; a male and a female student from one of the prestigious schools in Guyana were filmed having sex; a teacher has been charged for sexually assaulting female secondary school students; and these are only the cases that have been reported by the media. We are less than two months into a new year, and it already seems as though domestic violence, gender-based violence, and child abuse are set to continue unabated.

Police response to reports of domestic violence continues to be largely inadequate and not in keeping with the force’s own policy and procedure on domestic violence (DV). The frequent breaches of DV policy and procedure result in murder, maiming, and other life-threatening injuries, mainly to women, like Vanessa Francis. While the police force continues to fall short in fulfilling its responsibilities, we are, for example, still to see the establishment and operation of the promised and much-needed specialised domestic violence and sexual assault units. Domestic violence continues to escalate, and is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44. The old mantra of lack of resources is simply not acceptable.

Help & Shelter is on record as having advocated for the offence of “wandering” to be abolished – and indeed for the entire Juvenile Offenders Act to be repealed — and Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand promised to see to this, when she first became minister. This supposed offence of “wandering” was the reason for the 11-year-old, who was allegedly raped, having been taken to and detained by police at the BV station. Had the offence been abolished, the circumstances in which the alleged rape took place would not have occurred, nor would the heinous act have occurred if there were a holding facility for children under 14.

Even with recent new legislation, the system for the protection of children continues to fail the children of Guyana. How many more murders, rapes, suicides and abuses of children do we need before adequate steps are taken to rectify this situation? Can the Human Services Ministry say what resources have been allocated in the recent national budget for the improvement and extension of essential services for the protection of children?

If the women and children of Guyana are not to be subjected to continued violence and abuse, it is essential that scarce resources be allocated to where they will do most good for prevention and protection, and that the efficiency and efficacy of their use be systematically monitored (for example, it would be interesting to learn what have been the results of the much touted faith-based training workshops, for which $15,000,000 was reportedly allocated).

Yours faithfully,

Help & Shelter