Dear Editor,
Daily grim news about domestic violence has been inundating our television screens and airwaves. In essence and reality, domestic violence in Guyana has become tantamount to a societal pandemic, with all and sundry even the clergy proffering diverse reasons for its occurrence while clamouring for a cessation. Considered in aggregate, physically abusive men constitute a catastrophic public health hazard. In summary there appears, to be a heavy overreliance on the criminal justice system as the administrator of punishment and betterment. While incarceration may be an important deterrent to domestic violence, it is in no way a cure and should not be regarded as such.
Over the past years the prevailing question has been deceptively simple: “Has it worked? Plainly stated or better put— Have the batterers been made better? Was the prison environment conducive to reduction of aggression? What reeducation, basic, preparatory or otherwise awaits these abusers, (some of them habitual) within the walls of the institution wherein they will serve their sentence? The answer is a resounding… None!
Recently in a Guyanese newspaper, adherents of the Hippocratic Oath proffered the following as likely panaceas for domestic violence “We need to create a more peaceful society where there is justice for everyone, and where communication is nonviolent. We must teach abusers coping skills such as effective communication, problem-solving strategies, anger management, and self-control rather than using brutal force and violence”.
I somewhat beg to graciously differ as the intractable nature of the problem, reinforces the fact that each domestic violence is a unique, multi-faceted and ongoing problem that cannot be solved by a “one size fits all” intervention. Patriarchy might not explain all abuse, since not all batterers are violent for the same reason. Additionally, utilizing techniques such as anger management “downplays the fact that most batterers selectively confine their violence to their partners, rarely striking friends or coworkers” which feminists claim demonstrates that men can, in fact, control their behaviour in the parts of society where they are more likely to be held accountable. Research indicates that many wife abusers have substance abuse and addiction problems, and that treatments might be improved by addressing issues of racial prejudice, economic stress, detrimental community or family culture, mental illness and the men’s own histories of childhood abuse. This multi-faceted approach is a coordinated community response, and once again bears out the fact that no single intervention is expected to solve the complex problem of domestic violence. It is fear; the fear that they will be abandoned and this fear quickly turns into anger.
It is my belief that immediately before committing domestic violence the first emotion experienced by batterers is not rage but fear. Fear that they will be abandoned and this fear quickly converts into anger. Notwithstanding, it is blatantly evident that the nature of the criminal justice system’s response to the domestic violence incident has not altered the trajectory of recidivating, as the offenders are not deterred by the severity of their sentence.
The cyclical and recurrent nature of domestic violence suggests that spouses, children, and sometimes senior family members are often fearful of the offender’s reprisal. Recognizing not only the gravity of the situation, but also the urgent need for an approach geared towards gradual cessation, it is recommended that prison-based domestic violence programming be immediately instituted with mandatory attendance for all batterers. Such programmes should be conducted by appropriately trained practitioners, and intended to target many of the afore-stated risk factors that may predispose to domestic violence. Similar programmes should also be held in the communities. Social service and health care settings must be aware, or made aware of the protocols (or lack thereof) in their agencies for identifying and assisting battered women and their children, as there is evidence that opportunities to help them have been missed by some agencies, as in the case of Caroline Kennedy and her two children, residents of Bartica burnt to death in a house fire deliberately set by her husband, and Linus la Cruz of the gold mining township of Port Kaituma, who torched the home killing his wife and four children. Coordination and communication among agencies is ideal when possible because, in many cases, separate agencies each possessed unique and significant information with respect to risk that, taken together, would have painted an alarming picture with respect to the need for risk assessment, management and safety planning.
Clearly, reaching out to women who are abused is an essential part of preventing further abuse or death, because women often experience the violence/abuse long before it comes to the attention of police. Incorporated in the efforts(s) towards a cessation of the violence should be public awareness campaigns to inform women who are abused about strategies for getting help, and in the process may assist in changing community norms about domestic violence. The latter-mentioned point is extremely important, as in many cases, family members, neighbours and friends were aware of lethality risk factors but either did not fully understand their significance or did not know how to respond. Women planning on leaving an abuser, should be taught how to leave and not cause others to grieve—- how to strive to leave alive. She must be warned NOT to confront him personally with the decision, and instead should leave a note or call him later if necessary. Some women like the idea of a health care professional notifying the police for them, so professionals should offer this option to them.
Conclusively, one of the most promising and sustainable involves the implementation of school-based programnes aimed at preventing dating violence, and teaching youths about healthy relationships. Boys need to be taught the skills that are necessary for forming and sustaining healthy intimate relationships characterized by equality, and how to cope appropriately with the various conflicts that may arise in intimate relationships, especially with the potential dissolution of intimate relationships. Remember that not only is domestic violence a breach of the fundamental rights of security and personal integrity, but also an attack on the community.
Yours faithfully,
Yvonne Sam
