Elimination of Violence Against Women

Dec 02, 2012 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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By Latchmin Punalall

November 25th is a special day set aside when internationally, we examine the status of and re-commit to the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Within the Alliance For Change, we recognize the struggle of our women to overcome abuses one way or another and we salute them for being fearless and courageous. For the AFC, every day ought to be a day for the elimination of violence against women. No woman ought to be abused, tortured or made to suffer degrading or inhumane treatment.
On Nov 25, 1960, the Mirabel sisters Patria, Minerva and Antonia were tortured and murdered in a sugar cane field in the Dominican Republic. These sisters were political activists whose assassinations were orchestrated by the then ruthless dictator Rafael Trujillo. Consequently on Dec 17, 1999, the UN General Assembly designated Nov 25 to be observed.
In Guyana we often remember the female sugar worker Alice Kowsilla, who was crushed to death on March 6, 1964, when the management of Leonora Sugar Estate ordered a tractor to drive through a crowd of protesting sugar workers. This cruelty left four motherless children behind.
During 2012 women and girls continue to be victims of domestic and other forms of violence across Guyana. We recall the recent case of a 58-year-old helpless victim of Devonshire Castle, Essequibo, who fled her home after she was raped and doused with kerosene. We recall the case of 35-year-old Sursatie Abdool of Newtown, Enmore who was chopped five times about her body and her daughter Christine who was chopped thrice as she tried to defend her mother. She had been experiencing thirteen years of abuse from her reputed husband. Then there was the case of Letucia Rodrigues who was knifed to death and Rohanie Terjwantie who died by strangulation.
Why do many of our women return to or remain in abusive and violent relationships? It is mainly because they depend on the abusers for their necessities and that of their children. It is a situation where the powerless and injured depend on the powerful and evil. Therefore the AFC believes that one way we can alleviate this problem is by empowering these victims. Income-generating programmes should be initiated which will not only assist these victims financially, but which will eventually grow and benefit our communities and increase production levels nationally. Hillary Clinton rightly said “It’s not only the right thing to do. It’s clearly the smart thing as well”.
Although Guyana has laws which offer legal protection to women who suffer abuse, we often hear of cases who never seek legal help. Mindie Lazarus, professor of criminal justice and anthropology – University of Illinois, notes three roadblocks. First victims are turned off from meaningfully exercising their rights through the courts because they are talked down to, humiliated, viewed as wasting the court’s time, or have their experiences distorted. They leave the courts feeling defeated and embarrassed. Secondly, they do not always have the available time to frequent the courts. They may have little children to attend to. If they are working they may suffer loss of income which they cannot afford, or sometimes even lose their job.  Case backlogs, long adjournments, length of time taken by the police to serve a summons or bring charges all constitute to protraction and aggravation.
Thirdly, culture and religious beliefs may stand in the way. Victims may come from families or religious systems which demand that the relationship be preserved regardless of the extent of abuse, or that going to court is only for the ungodly. They hope that the abused will be able to work things out in the process of time, rather than live with the stigma of being separated or divorced.
Dr. Beth Feder, who is a domestic violence expert and who visited Guyana in Sept 2010 on behalf of US State Department, shared a practical recommendation which can deal with this three-fold roadblock. She advised that family justice centres be established where victims and their families can have their concerns speedily addressed. This is basically a centre where legal aid, counseling, child protection services and other related matters are offered under one roof. The AFC believes that this is a practical approach worth pursuing.
Our women and girls need to understand that abuse is not always physical, but it can be psychological as well. If you are not allowed to handle your own money, personal things or property; if you are always being watched over in a way that is threatening; if you are not allowed to eat or sleep well; if your children are being manipulated, these all cause emotional agony. These things humiliate the victim and dishonour or lower their self-esteem. If you are suffering emotionally, your attacker must accept that damage done to your mind makes him guilty, even if he says “I never slapped you, not even once”.
The AFC has always been willing to join forces with individuals, civil society, and the government to help bring an end to this pandemic of violence. Surely our women deserve a more just, peaceful and equitable society, and this can only be achieved if we harness our energy, ideas and resources. We are extending an invitation to the opposite sex to cooperate with us that together we have to strive to eliminate the Violence against Women in our homes, communities and towns across our beloved country.
Photo saved in Sunday Edition as Latchmin Punalall

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