Vigorous campaign against Domestic Violence continues

Nov 04, 2008 Sports

– Basketball players’ latest beneficiaries

Geetangeli Geer

The recent upsurge of front page displays of women being violently abused by their spouses and other close associates have prompted instant reaction from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

It its attempt to break the cycle of violence against women and stem the sudden increase in such incidents, the Ministry through its Domestic Violence Policy Unit has been conducting a number of seminars with various sports associations and other related agencies to help persons better understand the negatives and future consequences of such behaviour.
Head of the Policy Unit for Domestic Violence within the Ministry Geetangeli Geer in addressing a gathering of senior and junior basketball players from the Pepsi Sonics Club and members of the Inter-Guianas Games team gave an insightful presentation on ways to prevent and combat the scourge that seems to be enveloping the society.

The seminar which was conducted last Saturday at the National Gymnasium saw Geer explain through video analysis the various forms the behaviour can take, including how to detect when someone is exhibiting manipulative tendencies, what can be done to get out of an abusive relationship and were one can go to seek assistance from an abuser.

Geer said domestic violence is a behaviour that causes one partner to be afraid of the other, it can also take the form of physical and sexual abuse and forced social isolation away from family and friends and it is a violation of the person’s right and should be treated as a crime.

In many cases she said the victim is a woman, but cautioned that men are also victims as well. “Statistics have shown that 1 out of 3 women around the world have been beaten, forced into sex or abused,” she stated.

Members of the Pepsi Sonics Basketball Club and the Inter-Guianas Games squad listen attentively to Head of the Domestic Violence Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Geetangeli Geer last Saturday.

She added that it is also a systematic and structural mechanism used to exert control on women built on male superiority and female inferiority.

The Ministry’s advocate the spoke of the different aspects between healthy and unhealthy relationships and what can be done to change those that are harmful into ones that are harmless and full of love.

Healthy Relationships:
A healthy relationship is based on equality, mutual respect and individual freedom. These characteristics help to create an atmosphere of care, safety and affirmation of personal worth necessary for deepening our capacity to give and receive love.

Support:
It entails listening to each other in a non-judgmental way; providing affirmation and understanding; valuing each other’s feelings and opinions and supporting each other’s goals.

Trust:
Respecting each other’s rights to enjoy personal friends and activities outside the relationship and doing nothing that could harm the other person.

Emotional Honesty:
Feeling free and responsible to give feedback to the other person; feeling free to express in a non-blaming and non-judgmental way and asking for change in harmful attitudes and behaviours.

Unhealthy Relationships:
It is an abusive one that is based on power and control stemming from fear and insecurity. Freedom and equality is never allowed and various tactics and behaviours are used by the perpetrator to generate fear, shame, isolation, intimidation, anxiety and depression.

Emotional Power:
Putting down values and accomplishments you are proud of; disrespecting your needs and desires; being charming in public, but switching to emotional, verbal or physical abuse; calling you names and playing mind games in an attempt to confuse.

Isolation:
Trying to control what you do, who you see and talk to, what you read and where you go.

Use of Emotions:
Use jealousy, depression, insecurity, anger, passion, frustration and stress to justify abusive behaviour.
The eloquent presenter also advised persons suffering from such abuses to contact her Ministry or the nearest Police Station for assistance since they both work in collaboration in helping to eradicate or minimize cases of domestic violence.

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