Dear Editor,
The remarks attributed to Police Commander ‘A’ Division, Mr Hicken, demonstrate once again the urgent need for the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 2010. For Mr Hicken to suggest that how women dress may be a trigger for rape indicates a serious failure in the training which has purportedly been done with the police. The inclination to blame the victim is a weak and lazy response to a serious crime, and it is unacceptable as a response of the police – moreso a senior policeman – tasked with investigating these offences. We must have a police force that understands the underpinning of all forms of gender-based violence, that understands that rape is not a crime of passion or temptation, but of humiliation and hate. The police must be trained to really appreciate their role as protectors of the vulnerable. They cannot act on this responsibility if they are limited by the belief that the victim of a crime such as rape must somehow have contributed to that victimization.
Red Thread acknowledges the swift and appropriate response of APNU to Mr Hicken’s remarks and urges that they maintain this focus on the so-called ‘soft’ issue of gender-based violence plaguing the society. The protection of women and the vulnerable in the society should not be relegated to the bottom of the list of issues needing urgent action. We further urge those individuals who habitually question why group A or group B has not commented on an issue they identify as major to join the call for more and better training and supervision of the Guyana Police Force, including not just about legal specifics, but about the attitudes and behaviour expected of officers.
Mr Hicken must withdraw his remarks, and the Commissioner of Police must urgently organize the ongoing training of all ranks to ensure that the enforcers of the law are not hampered by views such as those expressed by the Commander.
Yours faithfully,
Wintress White
Halima Khan
for Red Thread
