Human Services and Social Security Minister Priya Manickchand believes that domestic violence often gets tangled up in family matters, as the lines get blurred between what constitutes a crime and what is acceptable in a man and woman relationship.
Priya Manickchand
“If there is any reason to question what is happening in the home and you feel trapped, vulnerable and weak, chances are you are a victim of some form of violence that is not acceptable, period. No excuses should be made about it and certainly, you cannot say it is a family matter and allow it to slide”, Manickchand said.
She was speaking to a small gathering of mostly women at the Indian Cultural Centre on Monday during a dialogue session on domestic violence that was organized by the Women’s Club of the Indian Cultural Centre in collaboration with the centre in observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The Minister was particularly firm on hammering home the issue of women who remain silent in relationships because “they and others looking in believe it is a family issue, domestic in every sense of the word”. But she advised that this could be detrimental, as women will continue to remain trapped in such relationships regardless of how much they are suffering.
Terms such as ‘private matters’ and ‘family issues’, and the belief that whatever happens between a man and woman in a relationship should stay between them, have long been a challenge in the fight to end domestic violence, Manickchand stated. She said that organizations such as Red Thread and Help and Shelter among others have been battling to change such beliefs.
In responding to a question, Manickchand admitted that the system has been so taxed in dealing with women who are abused, that due diligence has not been done in relation to their abusers. She said there are avenues where counselling is offered, but noted that more work can be done with abusive men.
“We are using the resources to focus on the women who are suffering, and many of them are suffering greatly, which means that we cannot pay as much attention as required to those men who are in need. I honestly wish we could”, the minister said.
Karen DeSouza of Red Thread was also part of the discussions, and she focused on how Guyanese are rearing their children, more importantly what they are teaching them. She opined that the disease of domestic violence must be tackled by addressing its prevention, noting that young men and women must be taught how to interact with each other and what a relationship is about. According to DeSouza, public education is a critical part of the process.
“By simply looking at the newspaper reports for the year we know that too many women have been killed in violent situations in this country, and that too many are victims of abuse…there are a number of angles we can tackle this issue from and we must”, she added.
The issue of what some women wear and whether that contributes to sexual assaults also came up and Minister Manickchand addressed it from the perspective that Guyana is a free society without any laws regarding how people should dress. She noted that a woman’s choice of dress, however stimulating should in no way be construed as an invitation to men with desires. But, she advised that the society has its share of deviants and that women should at least keep this at the back of their minds.
Some participants differed with the view about the freedom to wear whatever, stating that women should not venture out scantily dressed and not expect something unfortunate to happen, and or even a desire by a man to attack them sexually.
One man said that issues such as rape come back to sex, implying that how some women dress is the reason why men attack them.
But DeSouza asked what can then possibly be the reason for men sexually assaulting babies and toddlers if clothes are tied to the attacks. She stated that rape is about power and control, urging the gathering to be careful with how it views the issue of rape.
Priya Manickchand made some excellent points and I agree that educating women is the key to prevention. Men also need to be educated.
I very much like the response to the individual who implied that is is the way that women dresses which provokes rapes and her response as to what are the excuses for individuals who molest babies and toddlers. Let not forget the ones who commit incest.
Education begins in the home and it all ties into that individual’s experience. Women should also be made to understand that they are not second class citizen and as such they do not have to accept less. They need to learn to love themselves first and in the process if anyone comes into their lives with bullcrap, they need to send them packing the very first time they extend their hands on them.
…..dove priya need to stop making points and table a motion to STOP! domestic violence NOW!………..no more lip we had it…..
…….sister D turn up the heat under the pressure cooker……please turn up the pon them…….
Better late than never. It’s good that the Minister is speaking out about domestic violence against women. My question is, why the Minister chose the Indian Cultural Center, with a supposed indian audience, rather than a National Center, before a national audience, to speak about such an important national problem.
The question posed by the male member in the audience, demonstrates the backwardness in thinking, by some sections of the Guyanese public. That cave man in the audience, should have been told, that even if a woman is naked in bed, ready to have sex, and she changes her mind at the very last moment, and the male partner forces himself on her, IT IS RAPE.
……the minister is still a teething politician and is sometimes misadvise…… she will soon learn
……..please table a law as the representative of the people that if you lift a finger on a women in this land you going to prison with hard time no community servive……make or table that law with your male ppp counter parts and you will see how many would sign on or support it…..if you are serious, get serious at home first before you come out into public domain……
……….guyana is like a battered woman looking for a safe place to stay but can’t go no where because of her children……
Yes, FM, true, true. Amen to that.
The ole’ time remedy still works.
“every now and then you cuff them down, they love you long andthey love you strong.
The other day a waman was so badly beaten by her spouse, from her bed in the hospital she told the media she can’t remember what happened to her.
As if she expected anyone to believe her………………..???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah man, you just joking and hoping to bait somebody rite. You good at heart.
just as i had suggested tha she need to get out of her office & meet the ppl men & women… so they all can be better educated… will hopefully live a better life & lessen the domestic violence.
Now u doing your work…
Priya – once more you come through as a true humanitarian. You understand the dynamics of domestic violence very well and you are an asset to the nation at this particular time. Let us take this to the next level – begin to incorporate assertive skills in our school curriculum so that very early in life our youung people will understand the inappropriateness of violence.
Merry christmas and may the new year brings peace in every Guyanese community.
Priya – please let me know early if you are going to run for the highest office. I would like to help.
Cliff
I am glad to hear women – FINALLY – stating in so many words: that men do NOT rape women based upon how many, or how few clothes they happen to be wearing at the time.
Priya’s point about BABY-RAPE is an excellent one: what article, pray tell, of a toddler’s little romper-and-diaper could be “USED” by a sick, depraved Man who raped her, as “EVIDENCE” of her “desire to EXCITE him?!!?”
But the sad fact of the matter is: it is not really the average dog-minded man on the street that perpetuates this CONVENIENT-EXCUSE….it is their “Brothers” within the LEGAL “FRATERNITY’ that have traditionally – and still attempt to even today, make hay with this arrant, shameful piece of legal nonsense.
Preach, Priya, preach the gospel. Thou shalt not hit or hurt a woman. A clarion call needs to be sounded loud and clear and far and wide.
But then the following underscored how tough and uphill battle the goodly minister has:
“Some participants differed with the view about the freedom to wear whatever, stating that women should not venture out scantily dressed and not expect something unfortunate to happen, and or even a desire by a man to attack them sexually.
One man said that issues such as rape come back to sex, implying that how some women dress is the reason why men attack them”
Karen dealt with him and his ignorance on that score. Hope he had the brains to understand.
Anyhow on the substantative issue in the article, I seem to recall suggesting that there’s need for grassroots networking groups, trained and equipped to spot, and intervene, in any situation, once it arises, with a potential to lead to Domestic Violence.
Of course because of our culture there’ll be a blurring of what is personal “domestic issues” and DV when it occurs within the home. Perhaps, Ms Manickchand should make Domestic Violence her # 1 priority during the rest of her term in office.
This Minister is suppose to be a lawyer. Change the law to reflect the abuses, train the GPF to take these abuses seriously. Charges should range from “assault, assault causing bodily harm, attempted murder etc” don’t wait for the charges to be “murder”. A slap is ” assault”; charge the perps. This is the only way women would be protected and respected. When a “family issue” involves physical abuses, it is no longer a “family issue” or a “private matter”. By the way, this goes both ways, if a man hit a woman and vice versa.
….. while y’all givin’ advice ,, and crafting ,, laws ,, and handin’ out kudos ,, and opposing views on Min. Priya !,,,,, i’m enthralled by her flawless beauty,, and the focus of a condor !…..
way to go Priya !….. SN ,, u need to brighten up the pages ,, a bit more with more of GY’s natural female beauty ,, rather than just the mundane ,, banality everyday ,, we ,, and i’m sure when i say “we” i speak for many who r tired of ,, what is given to us for news ,, not that ,, again i’m sure like me ,, many r thankful for the grace extended to us ,, via this forum ,, but ,, in all of it ,, there needs to be a balance ! yuh know ,,, like gih we some good wid de “bad ” and “bad ” haysuh is how u see um !!!!!!!!!!…. me ?? i see um as bad fuh daze ! an ah meen enless daze !!!!!!!!!
How long will this thing take before it become law? Priya was at UG Berbice Campus last year with the same message. How long? How long?