Later this month, Guyana will observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Every year, this day serves as a global advocacy effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women. This year’s theme is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”.
It is no secret that women worldwide, including those in Guyana, continue to face unacceptable levels of violence in various forms. World Health Organization has estimated that nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner.
Over the years, we have seen countless stories reported in the media of some form of gender-based violence, with women especially being at the receiving end of the beatings; and, in some cases, even ending up dead. Even though the Government and other stakeholders have been engaged in various efforts to bring the situation under control, it seems as if the violence is far from over.
Between 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to increased risks of violence, particularly domestic violence, against women. The UN pointed to reports from countries around the world which suggest that restrictions in movement, and social isolation, coupled with increased social and economic pressures, are leading to an increase in violence in the home.
With effect from 25 November to 10 December, during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Guyana joined the WHO and other partners in raising 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. According to the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, “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 results in an overwhelming silence”.
As pointed out previously by the Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, “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. For example, the 914-emergency hotline which links survivors to agencies, advocacy programmes, referral pathways, microenterprise industries, and public-private skills employment database matching, and offers immediate help to extricate women from violent situations.
According to the Ministry, the 24-Hour Hotline Operators will offer support and referral to victims and survivors, family, friends and professionals via an integration of the services available at both the Domestic Violence Unit and the Childcare and Protection Agency.
It was also revealed that social workers have been trained through the Survivors Advocacy Programme to offer emotional support and crisis counselling to victims of domestic and sexual violence, and act on the victims’ behalf when necessary. These are all good initiatives.
Added to these, the EQUAL Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) CDN $2.25 million project, which seeks to safeguard women and girls against gender-based violence (GBV) by empowering them to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, was launched.
This particular programme will target vulnerable women and girls in our hinterland regions – Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine – in addition to women and girls who are Venezuelan migrants.
We support the Minister when she said at the launching that: “I believe this initiative, another partnership which sees international and local partners coming together to address the key issue of sexual and reproductive health and rights, could not have been timelier. I say this because it is concentrated in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine, where we do acknowledge, as a Government, we need to amplify the efforts that have been made.”
We echo the call by the Minister that better can, and must, be done.
