Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Violence against women remains a tragically pervasive problem

Nov 25, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
On the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Violence Against Women 2010, Help & Shelter notes with increasing concern that violence against women (VAW) remains a tragically pervasive and prevalent problem in Guyana and worldwide.
The extent of VAW in Guyana is truly frightening, particularly given that many victims still suffer in silence because of fear of discrimination, trauma and threats by the perpetrator and lack of confidence in social services and the justice system.
VAW is a gross violation of the basic human rights to safety, security and physical integrity and its cost to our people, our society, and our economy is incalculable. It is increasingly recognised as a major development concern and an impediment to the attainment of internationally agreed goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as it destroys families, disintegrates communities and impedes progress at all levels.
The murder of Neesa Gopaul and the systemic failures that led to her death at the age of 16 cannot and must not be forgotten. Neither must we forget all the other Guyanese women. who have been killed at the hands of their husbands or partners. It is tragic that VAW continues to increase and to escalate in its brutality in Guyana, even as structures are put in place and resources are allocated for its prevention. The process of adopting or enhancing laws, policies and action plans that address VAW cannot succeed if the monitoring, enforcement and implementation of these are not adequately resourced and recognised as vital to their success or failure.
The recent case of Dr. Vishwamintra Persaud, who, despite having been convicted of a child sex offence and stripped of his licence to practice medicine in the US, was employed at GPHC, is a clear example of flagrant disregard for the need to safeguard against VAW. Help & Shelter calls upon the Guyana Medical Council to revoke Dr. Persaud’s licence to practice medicine in Guyana and upon the Director of Public Prosecutions to take appropriate action under the Sexual Offences Act.
If we are truly committed to ending the scourge of VAW, we cannot ignore the deeply embedded cultural roots, practices and beliefs that contribute to its persistence and which, if allowed to go unchallenged, will continue to provide a fertile breeding ground for future generations of victims and perpetrators.
Help & Shelter has over the past 15 years played a significant role in raising awareness of VAW countrywide through our public education programmes, which include workshops and awareness sessions, dissemination of public educational materials, public service announcements and technical support to other organisations. We are also recognised as a leader in the provision of services to victims/survivors of VAW and other forms of gender-based violence. Between January 1996 and October 2010, 9,076 victim/survivors of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence received face to face, hotline and court support counselling and over 30,000 people were reached through public education programmes. And since November 2000, over 650 abused women and their children have been provided with a place of safety at our shelter.
One of the major challenges still faced in the fight against VAW is to transform commitments made to eliminate it into practice. This requires intensified financial and other support, enhanced cooperation among governmental, non-governmental and international organisations and increased investment in national and local efforts to ensure that women and girls are safe from violence and can lead healthy and productive lives.
Denise Dias
Vidyaratha Kissoon
Margaret Kertzious
Danuta Radzik
Josephine Whitehead

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega Auction; Shepherd, Powell snapped up by RCB and KKR, respectively

Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega...

Nov 26, 2024

  SportsMax – Guyanese hard-hitting left hander Sherfane Rutherford will get the opportunity to shine on T20 franchise cricket’s biggest stage once again after being picked up by the...
Read More
Roach and Seales star as West Indies close in on Antigua Test victory

Roach and Seales star as West Indies close in on...

Nov 26, 2024

Delroy Tyrrell continues to excel at Oneonta State University

Delroy Tyrrell continues to excel at Oneonta...

Nov 26, 2024

Ramdass Royals Crowned Champions of the Inaugural Windies Masters Cricket Extravaganza

Ramdass Royals Crowned Champions of the Inaugural...

Nov 26, 2024

KFC Guyana distance self from delayed payment of GFF Elite League prizes

KFC Guyana distance self from delayed payment of...

Nov 26, 2024

Ravens and Royals ready for epic Elite 16 final showdown

Ravens and Royals ready for epic Elite 16 final...

Nov 26, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]