Domestic violence and COVID-19

In a startling report revealed on Monday, the Judiciary and the Guyana Police Force reported that there has been an increase in domestic violence cases in Guyana.
Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie made this revelation.
Importantly, the Chancellor emphasised that Guyana, like many other countries, has seen a rise in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, while adding that domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, and psychosocial abuse have been part of the ills in society and must not go untackled.
Earlier this year, United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed had detailed the many problems women are faced with during lockdown and made recommendations in relation to various forms of support Governments and other partners could provide to ensure women are able to confront these challenges.
According to SG Mohammed, women bear the brunt of increased care-work during this pandemic. School closures further worsen this burden and places more stress on women. The disruption of livelihoods and their ability to earn a living – especially for those women who are informal wage workers – will decrease access to basic needs and services. This situation increases stress on families with the potential to intensify conflict and violence.
Violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another. Over the years, the UN has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence.
These measures have included criminalising gender-based violence, putting on massive public awareness campaigns and providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders and to support victims of the scourge at the community level.
Every year during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Guyana joins the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners to raise awareness about the global need to prevent and respond to violence against women, and provide support to survivors.
However, not many women admit to being victims of violence. The Human Services Minister, some time ago, said, “Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits and dead bodies. Fear of societal judgement, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation keep this a hushed conversation or result in an overwhelming silence”.
As pointed out by the Human Services and Social Security Minister, “violence against women is a heinous crime and a pervasive breach of human rights. Yet, it continues to be one of the longest, hardest challenges to the world, and involves psyches, attitudes, poverty, cultures, emotional manipulation, substance abuse and lack of education”.
We had previously called for urgent action to be taken by the Government and other partners to end violence against women. We are pleased that some steps are being taken in this regard, including the 914-emergency hotline. Since its launch, the 24-hour hotline’s operators have been seeking to offer support, and referrals to victims and survivors, family, friends and professionals via an integration of the services available at both the Domestic Violence Unit and the Child Care and Protection Agency.
We echo the call by the Minister that better can and must be done. Everyone must work in every home, school, office, and community in every part of our country to expose violence against women where it exists, support the women, work with the perpetrators, create safe spaces, educate persons, and share solutions.