Intimate partner violence

Nov 19, 2024 Editorial, News

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…Editorial

Kaieteur News-Every week without fail there are media reports on some tragic incident involving domestic violence.

As we published last week violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence – is a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights. Violence negatively affects women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health.

According to the World health Organisation (WHO), 1 in 3 women in the Americas have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Men are more likely to perpetrate violence if they have low education, a history of child maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence against their mothers, harmful use of alcohol, unequal gender norms including attitudes accepting of violence, and a sense of entitlement over women.

Women are more likely to experience intimate partner violence if they have low education, exposure to mothers being abused by a partner, abuse during childhood, and attitudes accepting violence, male privilege, and women’s subordinate status. Situations of conflict, post-conflict and displacement may exacerbate existing violence, such as by intimate partners, as well as and non-partner sexual violence, and may also lead to new forms of violence against women.

The Guyana Police Force last week in releasing its report on crime statistics disclosed that for this year 88% of the murder victims were male and 12% female. The breakdown of murder cases included 56 from disorderly conduct, 10 from domestic violence, 11 from robbery, eight executions, and 15 cases of unknown causes.

On Monday, we reported on a 26-year-old man who took his own life after chopping to death his reputed wife at Supply Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The victims are 28-year-old Thagewante Motie and Uram Doorbassa better known as “Anil”, both of Mahaica were having a quarrel when Doorbassa lost his cool and became violent.

Then there was the 60-year-old taxi driver who was remanded to prison last Wednesday after he was charged with attempted murder of his 74-year-old common-law wife. Keith Williams is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Deanna Bourne with intent to murder her, on November 10, 2024, at their residence located at Lot 142 El Dorado Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. According to police statements, Williams and Bourne have been in a common-law relationship for 42 years and have lived together in the same home. On the day of the incident, Bourne was at home when Williams returned and was initially refused entry into the home by Bourne. After some time, their granddaughter opened the door for him and Williams proceeded to Bourne’s bedroom, where he woke her up and an argument ensued between them. Following the argument, Williams left the room, retrieved a cutlass from his motor vehicle, and returned to the bedroom, where he chopped Bourne, inflicting multiple injuries to her body and face.

In both of these cases there were clear indications that the relationships were marred by frequent quarrels and bouts of violence. Persons said to be knowledgeable about the relationships in both cases indicated problems in the relationships. In most of the cases involving domestic violence, persons knowing about these troubled relationships have either not intervened or intervened too late to prevent the tragic consequences. Given the frequency with which troubled relationships are leading to maiming and murder, we urge that a concerted attempt be made to address is now a very serious social problem.

Friends, neighbours and communities must be educated about the red flags of domestic problems. When these flags appear, there should be a response. It is unfortunate when neighbours and friends wait too late before they intervene. However, individual responses are never going to be good enough to make a difference. What is needed is a truly national effort to educate the Guyanese people about the dangers of domestic abuse. A simple quarrel can easily escalate into murder. Thus, interventions need to be made, especially in troubled relationships. In this regard we feel there is an important role for religious and community organizations.
These organisations should be pro-active in seeking out troubled relationships since very often frustration builds up when there is no resort to someone to talk to or someone whose help can be sought to resolve a problem. Counseling is also needed. There is an abject lack of these services in the communities in which they are most needed. While Guyana is yet to develop a strong culture of providing these services, the time is now propitious for every community to have at its disposal persons trained to provide counseling and support to families that are having difficulties in relationships. It is a noteworthy trend also that quite a number of cases involving the use of violence against the person is associated with broken relationships. Judging from the cases that have been making the news, many men who have failed to win back the affection of a loved one, have resorted to violence against those rejecting their advances.
This is yet another troubling social problem and again requires public education on how to deal with rejection and how to move on after a broken relationship. We believe that emotional problems, be they mental or matters of the heart, are legitimate matters of public health and as such we urge the Ministry of Health to network with the many social, religious and community groups within our society to come up with a national campaign aimed at healing troubled relationships and rejection. We urge public education on anger management and other related subjects which can help to reduce the high incidence of domestic violence in society. A great deal of progress has been made on the legislative front in dealing with domestic violence. It is time for initiatives that address the problems arising in relationships.

(Intimate partner violence)

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• Editorial, intimate partner violence, public health problem, sexual violence

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