Protection from violence is the responsibility
of the state, community and families —never the victim.
Violence on the basis of sex or gender identity
—gender-based
violence (GBV)— affects women, men and transgendered folks. The most common form of
gender-based violence is the abuse of women by their male partners. Women
become targets by virtue of these relationships and because GBV involves crimes
by people with whom the victims are intimate, perpetrators often escape the
justice system.
Statistics on GBV against women from
2009:
·
27.7
% reported physical abuse
·
12.7
% experienced sexual violence
Amerindian
women are twice as likely as Indo-Guyanese counterparts and six times as likely
as their Afro-Guyanese counterparts to have accepting attitudes toward domestic
violence. Overall, 18% of women believe that some beatings are justified.
In 2013:
·
638
cases of domestic violence were filed
·
2,925
cases of child abuse were reported
·
670
cases of child abuse involved sexual abuse
·
88%
of the children who were sexually abused were girls
Statistics on GBV are lower than the
actual incidents because survivors often do not report and health and law
enforcement officials are not often trained to investigate. Advancing Partners
and Communities and the International Center on Research on Women, supported by
USAID, are working with NGOs and Guyana’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat to
improve prevention and response to GBV.
APC spoke with
Commissioner Nicole Cole of Guyana’s Women and Gender-Equality Commission on what
women can do to protect themselves from GBV. Here’s what the Commissioner had to say:
1. KNOWLEDGE BEFORE INTIMACY
“To
protect themselves, women must be prepared to investigate the character of the
men they date BEFORE they become intimate. There is need for a Sexual Offenders
Register as well as a GBV register so that perpetrators can be identified more
easily.”
2. SELF-DEFENCE
“There is a valid argument for self-defence. The
art of self-defence is most crucial since she will be able to take quicker
action to save herself and family if attacked. The movie ENOUGH is a very
brilliant example. To those women enduring GBV my message is pellucid
"LEAVE" because GBV will destroy not only you but your family,
leaving fractured communities and broken dreams!”
3. STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS
Many women don’t know the rights to protection
offered under Guyana’s Sexual Offences
Act and Domestic Violence Act. They
provide victims legal protection from persistent verbal abuse, threats of
physical violence, malicious damage to property, psychological violence and rape.
By law, the police must accept your complaint and investigate. If women do not
know their rights, they cannot assert them.
4. SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON GBV
GBV thrives in silence. Recognise the early
signs of violence for what it is —violence. And talk about it. Talk to your
children, family, friends, co-workers, and neighbours about ending GBV. Intervene in all the ways you can —call the police, help victims
develop a safety plan, accompany them to file complaints, seek health care, etc.
Show survivors a safe way out and reaffirm their self-worth and resilience to
start a life without violence. Women have more power to protect themselves from
GBV than they practice.
5. RAISE CHILDREN FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
Women contribute to how children see and value
themselves. Practice justice. Teach your children to contribute equally and
reward their efforts fairly. Practice non-violence in disciplining your children.
Might does not make right. Model how women should be treated and how to respond
when dignity and safety are threatened. Children learn and imitate what they see.
Ms. Cole is currently involved in the PREVENTION of GBV project. She sits on the National Committee for the Prevention of Violence which was formed to address the 58 recommendations from a National Conference on Interpersonal Violence held in November, 2013. She is tasked with visiting schools, corporations and organisations to motivate commitment to violence prevention.
For more
information:
For help, contact:
Help and Shelter
Homestretch Avenue,
Georgetown, Guyana
Tel: 225-4731
Agape Network
Incorporated
Lot 2 Turkeyen, Upper
Dennis Street Sophia
Tel: 219-2300
Artistes In Direct
Support
156 Alexander Street
Tel: 225-5112
FACT
78 Corriverton, Berbice
Tel: 335-3990
Hope For All
Lot 6 Belfield Public
Road, Essequibo Coast
Tel:774-4598
Youth Challenge Guyana
G Enachu Street
Section K, Campbelville
Tel: 223-7884
United Brick Layers
25 Charles place New
Amsterdam, Berbice
Tel: 333-4524
Linden Care Foundation
Kara Kara, Linden,
Guyana
Tel: 444-6693
Lifeline Counselling
Services
332 East Street,
Georgetown Guyana
Tel: 615-6308
Hope Foundation
Youth Choice Centre
Mongrippa Hill, Bartica
Tel: 455-3144
Comforting Hearts
6-16 Coburg Street,
New Amsterdam, Berbice
Tel: 333-4722
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