Head of the Domestic Violence Policy Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) Geetanjali Geer has pleaded with female trades unionists not to turn a blind eye to domestic violence.
Speaking at an awareness session, she held with women from different bargaining units of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Geer pointed to the recent escalation of domestic violence and murders and noted that recognizing the signs and acting on them had become part of society’s responsibility.
According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), Geer held an awareness session with 35 union women on Saturday at the GAWU Boardroom in Kingston.
She stated that children are affected by domestic violence when growing up in an abusive family and they become trapped in a cycle where they believe that domestic violence is acceptable. She noted that the culture of this form of abuse becomes embedded in children’s minds resulting in them thinking it is acceptable and normal .She noted that the incidence of domestic violence has escalated over the year, adding that it is society’s responsibility to recognize when someone is affected by this form of abuse.
Geer said the four daily newspapers on Saturday carried front page stories of a man who killed his spouse and hurt her daughter and a niece, GINA stated “If we turn our backs to domestic violence on the road this is what we will continue to see on our front pages,” Geer said. She said violence on the road was regarded as a crime and queried why it was being neglected when it occurred in the home. She noted that this is a violation of one’s fundamental rights.
She explained that domestic violence is a cycle in which an abuser is empowered to commit his/her actions repeatedly when the person being abused does nothing about it the first time, the release said.
She urged participants to ensure both boys and girls in a household are given equal opportunities so that they become independent individuals since the self esteem of women was sometimes destroyed by men using verbal abuse. She said this is further compounded by the economical and social dominance of men.
According to GINA, Geer told participants that the MHSSS and non-governmental organizations can assist persons who are abused, by providing the necessary support as she reasoned that it is understandable that women do not want to leave an abusive relationship because of their children.
GINA stated that the MHSSS provides counselling when persons visit the ministry or they can lodge a report. If the matter is reported the police will be contacted to make a follow up on the matter and persons can also attend support sessions with other victims of domestic abuse.
GINA also noted that initiatives such as the Domestic Violence Act of 1996 which provides for protection, occupation and tenancy orders and for custody and maintenance and providing legal support through its Legal Aid Clinics; the National Policy on Domestic Violence and the creation of the Domestic Violence Policy Unit to enforce the policy were created by the government to combat domestic violence.
Similar sessions have been held over the past few months with organizations including sport organizations, Students of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, members of the Guyana Girl Guides Association and women in Linden and Berbice, the release stated.
