It would be hard to find any adult Guyanese, who has never been the victim of gender-based violence (GBV), also referred to as domestic abuse or, who does not know someone who has suffered such violence. This appalling truth arises from the fact that Guyana has one of the highest rates of GBV in the world. The first comprehensive survey of GBV in this country was conducted in 2019. The Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Survey (WHLES) was conducted using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines which were adapted to take into account Guyana’s Caribbean identity. According to that survey, more than half, or 55 per cent of Guyanese women will suffer violence at the hands of an intimate partner. Certainly, any responsible government would be horrified by such a number and would wish to do everything possible to mitigate such a huge problem.
GBV are violent acts primarily or exclusively committed against females. Such violence is widely considered a form of hate crime, committed against women or girls specifically because they are female. The problem is an international one. According to the WHO, the prevalence of GBV varies among different countries and territories, with most societies having between 29 per cent and 62 per cent of their respective female populations being victims. Having been recognised as a major, worldwide issue, every year since 1991, countries, including Guyana, recognise November 25 as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. That day marks the beginning of the internationally recognised, ’16 Days of Activism’ during which governments, non-governmental organisations, faith-based groups, and other entities seek to raise public awareness of the scourge of GBV. The annual 16 Days of Activism ends on December 10 which is recognised as International Human Rights Day.
Experts recognise that GBV may be caused by many specific factors in various contexts. However, at the root of the problem is the cultural phenomenon of gender inequality. In other words, women are victimised because they are viewed as less important, or less valuable than men. It follows that societies in general, and governments in particular, must attack that root cause of the issue. One way that governments can do that is to aspire towards gender parity in government ministries, legislative bodies, the judiciary, and other agencies. One may therefore conclude that any government that is dominated by men, to the exclusion of women, is not very concerned with solving the GBV problem.
Experts say too, that perpetrators of the crime of GBV are not limited to intimate partners, but GBV may also be committed by others. The survey conducted in Guyana found that 1 in 5 (or 20 per cent of) women in Guyana have experienced non-partner sexual abuse — one type of GBV — in their lifetime. The survey discovered too, that 13 per cent reported experiencing this abuse before the age of 18. Being young is the most significant risk factor for non-partner sexual violence (NPSV), including rape, attempted rape, unwanted sexual touching and sexual harassment. The 15–24 age group reported statistically higher rates of NPSV of every type (the 55–64 age group reported the least).
Data was also obtained by the survey regarding other forms of GBV such as psychological abuse and physical attacks.
The effects of GBV may be devastating to the victims, their families, their communities, and societies generally. Victims may be physically or mentally injured for their entire lives. Some sufferers may take their own lives, and others may even die at the hands of the abuser(s).
Government has the means to address the GBV scourge because the matter has been extensively studied and is relatively well understood. Experts have written extensively on the subject. For example, Ms. Maryce Ramsey, Senior Gender Advisor at one prominent U.S. based think-tank has said that government funding to ensure women’s full participation in civil society is a key mechanism to GBV mitigation. She said too, that other steps that may be taken include, bringing gender-based violence clinical services to lower-level health facilities, and addressing the needs of child survivors, including interventions to disrupt the gender-based violence cycle.
Guyanese citizens may be justifiably concerned about the high rate of GBV in our country. And, as responsible people, we should hold the government’s feet to the fire; we have a duty to hold government accountable for correcting our social ills and making our lives better. We have the right to demand better of the persons who hold the reigns of power.
