Dear Editor,
I am appealing to the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Sexual Offences legislation to make provisions for deaf persons. This is necessary because deaf youngsters are said to be more vulnerable to sexual abuse because they lack the communication skills to explain what is happening to them.

We have found that sexual assaults on deaf persons are far more widespread than it would appear, and victims who are deaf face unique issues not encountered by hearing persons. Deaf people face specific barriers related to communication and culture. It is therefore important that legislation is drafted to distinguish their experiences as sexual assault victims from other sexual assault victims.

The legislation should make it mandatory that the Guyana Police Force ensure that sign language interpreters are present when the victim is being interviewed. The Support Group for Deaf Persons (SGDP) is ready and willing to assist in this area.

When deaf people report sexual assaults, they encounter stereotypes about being a sexual assault victim, and being deaf, they often have feelings of guilt and embarrassment because of the social stigma frequently attached to rape. These feelings can be compounded due to the small and generally close-knit nature of the deaf community, which can contribute to a hesitancy to report a sexual assault. The closeness of the deaf community can compromise a victim’s anonymity and erode privacy.

Fortunately, more and more deaf victims of sexual assault and their care-givers are finding the courage to report these criminal acts. However, deaf victims still perceive a lack of support within the hearing community, particularly if the perpetrator is not deaf. The feeling is compounded when a few investigating ranks of the Guyana Police Force exhibit a reluctance to diligently pursue the perpetrators.

We have also found that another impediment to justice for deaf victims seeking help is a lack of awareness about deafness and deaf culture among hearing people, including police officers, prosecutors, magistrates and judges. Cases involving deaf victims often take longer to complete than others, raising fears of attempts to frustrate them so that the perpetrators can walk free.

Many persons view deafness from a medical perspective, focusing on hearing deficits rather than viewing deaf people as members of a linguistic and cultural community. In fact, many deaf persons do not view themselves as disabled, but rather as having a culture and way of communicating not recognised by the dominant hearing culture.

This is a golden opportunity for the lawmakers of this country to provide legislative support to an important section of our society.

Yours faithfully,
Leon Walcott
Director
Support Group for
Deaf  Persons