By Mrs. Latchmin Punalall – WFC Chairperson

Sun Nov 25 was set aside internationally by the UN to observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The AFC recognized the struggle of our women to overcome abuses and we salute them for being fearless and courageous.

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. This cruelty left four motherless children behind. During 2012 numerous women and girls continue to be victims of domestic and other forms of violence across Guyana. We recall the case of 40-year-old Ms. Soogrim of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara who was knifed to death by her reputed husband. She perished on Nov 25, the very day of for the Elimination of violence against women. Another case was highlighted on 25 Nov where a 17-year-old girl from Port Kaituma was raped. According to reports, the teenager, after being molested, revealed her horrifying experience to her parents but no report was made to the police station. A week from this date she ingested a poisonous substance.

These cases show no eliminating of discrimination against women despite the 2012 theme “Eliminating Discrimination Against Women in Order to end Gender-Based Violence”. Abusers are controllers who hold their victims in unnecessary bondage and hinder them from fulfilling their purpose in life.

Our women return to or remain in abusive and violent relationships 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. Hilary Clinton rightly said “It’s not only the right thing to do. It’s clearly the smart thing as well”.

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 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”.

Although Guyana has laws which offer legal protection to women who suffer abuse we often hear of cases who never seek legal help. There are roadblocks which prevent victims from going forward meaningfully and exercising their rights through the courts because:

1. They are talked down to, humiliated, viewed as wasting the court’s time, or have their experiences distorted.
2. They leave the courts feeling defeated and embarrassed.
3. They do not always have the available time to frequent the courts.
4. They may have little children to attend to.
5. If they are working they may suffer loss of income which they cannot afford, or sometimes even lose their job.
6. Case backlogs, long adjournments, length of time taken by the police to serve a summons or bring charges all constitute to protraction and aggravation.
7. When cases are reported it is alleged that police never shows up.
8. Their 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.
9. 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.

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 men to cooperate with us that together we can strive to Eliminate Violence Against Women in our homes, community, and town across our beloved country Guyana. I leave a quote with you from the Holy Bible where Deborah a patriotic woman saw the women dishonored and children slain in her time. The men became fearful and she took leadership and called on Barrack the Commander of the army to help her country. He answered her by saying in Judges 4:8 “If thou will go with me, them I will go, if thou will not go with me, then I will not go”. Deborah agreed to go with him. Women For Change, the women’s arm of the AFC is standing as many Deborahs.

Please follow and like us: