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Guyana is failing its rape victims

Apr 16, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
Most of us are enraged when we hear of the rape and abuse of children. Most of us would want to lynch, castrate, or even kill the rapists.  However, the justice system is supposed to work and as a society, we are not expected to lynch, castrate or kill anyone who is accused of rape.
We are supposed to be providing services for victims of rape, ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice and preventing rape.
The needs of rape victims are articulated in the letter to the media from Help and Shelter and Red Thread on April 5, 2014. The actions which should be taken by Ministers and MPs and their friends are also well articulated in that letter.
Any Member of Parliament or Minister who is concerned about rape and sexual violence should know that section 87 of the Sexual Offences Act calls for the establishment of the National Task Force for Prevention of Sexual Offences by the President. Section 87 (of the electronic copy of the Act which was circulated at the time of passing) is reproduced here :-
(1) There shall be established an inter-agency task force to be known as the National Task Force for the Prevention of Sexual Violence which shall have the duty to develop and implement a national plan for the prevention of sexual violence.
(2) The President shall appoint the members of the Task Force, which shall include the Ministers of Legal Affairs, Home Affairs, Human Services and Social Security, Amerindian Affairs, Education, Health, Local Government, Youth, Sport and Culture, senior public officers with responsibility for law enforcement, health and human and social services and persons from non-governmental organisations.
(3) The Task Force shall carry out the following activities either directly or by one or more of the constituent ministries as appropriate –
(a) develop and publish within a reasonable time of the coming into force of this Act, a National Plan for the Prevention of Sexual Offences, which shall include the necessary steps to eradicate sexual violence
in Guyana;
(b) develop initiatives for prevention of sexual violence;
(c) co-ordinate the implementation of the National Plan;
(d) commission and co-ordinate the collection, publication and sharing of data among government agencies;
(e) establish policies to enable the Government to work with non- governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, community-based organisations and other elements of civil society to prevent sexual violence and provide assistance to victims of sexual violence;
(f) provide guidance to the Sexual Violence Unit;
(g) develop national policy guidelines and protocols for victims of sexual violence and address matters relating to police services, prosecution, medical services, social service, probation service and prison service;
(h) monitor the implementation of this Act, the National Plan and the National Policy Guidelines and protocols;
(i) co-ordinate national education and awareness programmes;
(j) focus special attention on the issues of sexual violence in remote areas, including access to police support and medical attention, court services;
(k) determine the effectiveness of public awareness exercises and measures to be taken to ensure effectiveness;
(l) provide guidance on the development of training programmes specified under section 91;
Section 88 of the act also calls on the Minister of Human Service to set up the Sexual Violence Unit which will support the Task Force.  Minister Webster’s budgets and plans so far for 2014 do not include the Sexual Violence Unit. Surely she should be heckled too for her failure to put the legislative mechanisms in place!
It is ironic, the standing in silence by the PPP in support of their colleague on Friday afternoon in parliament. The PPP’s silence and refusal to effectively implement the Sexual Offences legislation which the party passed are sickening.
Vidyaratha Kissoon

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