Dear Editor,

In June 2008, the National Domestic Violence Policy was launched. We believe that the lack of any real co-ordinated implementation of this policy should be a cause for national concern. The policy recognises several guiding principles and eight thematic areas on which the government and other stakeholders are to co-ordinate efforts to change the culture in which domestic violence continues unabated. This policy is not the sole responsibility of any one minister, and recognises the responsibilities of different government and non-governmental actors.

The first thematic area refers to the enforcement of legal sanctions and the Domestic Violence Act. While legal aid services now exist throughout the coastland, there are still problems when persons try to access the courts themselves. The Guyana Police Force is yet to move to consolidate its training and to implement Domestic Violence Units in each division.

The second thematic area refers to the provision of services for survivors of domestic violence. There are limited counselling services available outside of Georgetown, and in some parts of Guyana no counselling or referral services exist. There were no commitments made in the 2009 National Budget to expand any of the available services.

The third thematic area refers to the health sector. There is a need for the interagency protocols that will enable the health sector to intervene in cases of domestic violence and to provide the appropriate referrals. The Ministry of Health is expected to take the lead role in this area.

The fourth thematic area refers to continuous public education. The public has been receptive to education about the dynamics of domestic violence and to breaking the silence. The policy refers to a curriculum in schools, and the Ministry of Education is yet to report on how it plans to incorporate education about non-abusive family relationships into its family life education programme.

The fifth thematic area addresses the need for special attention to build the capacity of rural and hinterland communities, with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs taking a leading role in ensuring that there are clear guidelines and protocols for village councils and leaders to deal with domestic violence matters.

There are no protocols and still no support mechanisms in place.

The sixth thematic area recognises that persons with disabilities will require special needs and services and there has been no progress in this area.

The seventh thematic area calls for publicising the provisions of the Maintenance Act to ensure that elderly persons are not further victimised due to poverty or lack of information about support.

The eighth thematic area addresses the need for continued monitoring and evaluation of the policy and the need for data gathering to ensure that all aspects of the policy are being implemented effectively.

The implementation of the policy was to be vested in a Domestic Violence Policy Oversight Committee consisting of “high ranking officials in the Ministries, Agencies and Organisations which have a role to play in reducing domestic violence, and non-affiliated individuals who by virtue of their commitment and experience may be invited to serve on the Committee.” It is intended to be an active body, which prepares an annual action plan for the national budget preparation and which interacts with the public as it reports on various aspects of the policy. There have been no statements or public interactions by the committee.  Domestic violence remains an extremely serious problem in Guyana and there is no evidence of the changes needed to “break the cycle.”

Help & Shelter and Red Thread recognise that the Domestic Violence Policy alone will not solve the problems of escalating levels or the increasing severity of domestic violence resulting too often in death, but it is a vital and crucial element in the fight to eradicate domestic violence in Guyana. Help & Shelter and Red Thread have supported the work done in formulating this policy and are committed to working with the different agencies who have responsibilities for its implementation.

We therefore call on the government to move forward on the implementation of this policy.

Yours faithfully,
Karen De Souza
for Red Thread and
Vidyaratha Kissoon
for Help & Shelter