A recent study has revealed that the lifetime prevalence of physical violence against women in Guyana was the highest in Berbice, Human Services Minister Dr Jennifer Webster announced on Wednesday.
The study, commissioned by the ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, found that the prevalence was “77 percent in Region 6, followed by 65 percent in Region 4 and 63 percent in Region 10,” Webster was quoted as saying by the Government Information Agency (GINA).
She was speaking at the time at the launch of the National Domestic Violence Conversation, which is aimed at further sensitising the public with the aim of identifying prevention mechanisms to address the adverse effects of domestic violence on the nation’s human capital.
Speaking about the study, Webster added that most of the women in abuse cases were injured, suffered ill health and inability to work. She also said 50 percent of the women were sexually abused by their intimate partner during the course of their lives. The most common reasons women gave for staying with their abuser, she added, were that they were unable to support their children and willing to forgive for the sanctity of their marriage.
According to Webster, the time has come to stop the lame excuses and the ministry will be working hand in hand with all stakeholders to address this phenomenon.
GINA said the ‘national conversation’ exercise will be taken to all 10 administrative regions between July and November of this year. The initial areas to be targeted will be Matthews Ridge, Moruca, Mabaruma, and Port Kaituma, in Region 1; Anna Regina, Region 2; New Amsterdam, Region 6; Bartica, Region 7; Mahdia, Region 8 and Linden, Region 10.
Webster, the pioneer of the national conversation, in her address at the launch at the Guyana International Conference Centre, said that the exercise is one of several initiatives planned in response to the recent upsurge of domestic violence. She acknowledged that despite efforts at the level of government to put in place a robust legal framework, there is still need to protect women and girls from violence of husbands, partners and male family members.
The outcome of the conversations, she noted, will be reflected in the National Plan of Action on Domestic Violence, accompanied by a Comprehensive Communication Strategy and a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the monitoring of domestic violence cases. The active role and participation of the media will be a key pillar in the national conversation, she added.
‘Collective effort’
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, speaking at the event, commended the many governmental agencies and non-governmental and faith-based organisations that have joined the administration’s fight against domestic violence.
“We, as the government, are happy to partner with you. It is because of your efforts, domestic violence is no longer seen a private matter, we have made progress in the way people think about domestic abuse, but this is not sufficient since too many people are still suffering and too many homes are being divided because of this cowardly act of domestic violence,” Hinds was quoted by GINA as saying.
However, he added that more can be done and more will be done, since the issue of domestic violence must now be seen as a national effort and not a single-handed approach by government, requiring a collective effort from all stakeholders.
For this reason, he said the national conversation was conceived so that all of society can have their say and become part of the solution to this affliction, which has bedevilled the society.
“I hope that through these conversations we can develop a common approach towards this problem and create the support and response network which will promote public awareness of the issue, while ensuring that perpetrators do not escape justice,” Prime Minister Hinds said.
Violence, whatever form it takes, is repugnant to human life and freedom and in this regard, he said, the right to life and liberty are enshrined in the Constitution and have the characteristics of being inalienable and fundamental.
“A life free of violence is a logical extension of these rights…Guyana is a signatory to international conventions aimed at safeguarding the right to life and liberty… unfortunately, that right is violated by the scourge of domestic violence,” Hinds lamented.
Violence, he said further, is one of the invisible and under-recognised pandemics, accruing both direct and indirect costs. Such violence places a huge financial burden on the country, civil society and international donors. However, the human cost to abused men, women, children and their families is unquantifiable and therefore demands urgent action, Hinds added.
“We need to make sure that we’re doing everything we can for victims in this critical period so as to ensure that those who are seeking help and protection obtain that help and protection…. We must equally examine our socialisation process. Parents have an obligation to be positive role models to their children. The education system has a role to reinforce these messages. The bottom line is that no one, adult or child, should live in fear because they feel unsafe in their own home,” he declared.
Guest speaker Roberta Clarke, Regional Director, United Nation’s Entity for Equality and Women’s Empowerment, commended Guyana for such a bold step in addressing domestic violence, which she said is not just limited to Guyana, but the world at large, a scourge that has damaged the lives of many women and children.
While recounting the many social effects of domestic violence in the Caribbean, she urged that others follow in the step of Guyana.
And United States Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt, who also addressed the gathering, saluted Guyana’s commitment to confront the epidemic of domestic violence. “We are also pleased that the government is working closely with civil society groups to build awareness of the affront to human rights posed by domestic violence and violence against women and children,” Ambassador Hardt said.
While giving credit to the many tangible efforts by both the government and civil society organisations to address domestic violence, including the enactment of the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act, and the establishment of the Men’s Affairs Bureau, he urged the private sector, and international partners to further enhance their support to vital civil society groups such as Red Thread, Help and Shelter and religious organisations that are doing a lot of ground work to help those in need.
A survivor of domestic violence, Tiffany Jackson, a mother and teacher shared her encounters with her abuser with the gathering.
Representatives from a number of organisations, including the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, Red Thread, Help and Shelter and Men’s Affairs Bureau all pledged their support for the successful outcome of the National Conversation on Domestic Violence, GINA said.
