THE WANTON unleashing of domestic violence against women and girls in its worst form, witnessed locally over the last few months, is horrific and to be vehemently condemned by all sectors of society. Within the first two weeks of the year, about nine women were brutally murdered  by their spouses, with the figure spiraling  dramatically out of control by mid May. Also making headline news were numerous cases of  sexual assaults, not only on teenagers, but girls as young as four years – some of the predators being family members, while others still , attempted torching their spouses and children by setting alight, buildings they occupied.

If allowed to persist, domestic violence, which  invariably sees male abusers foisting themselves on their victims in acts of unwanted sexual relations, can exacerbate the spread of HIV, thereby undermining the strides made by Guyana in controlling the spread of the disease.

With the situation now apparently spiraling out of control, there is an upsurge in demands for greater advocacy for strong and effective prosecution of perpetrators of violence against women and for the passing of the Sexual Offences Bill, which would protect girls from sexual assaults.  Even though Guyana has a Legislation Governing Sexual Offences, there is need for this to be enforced with the kind of zeal as used by the media in making such offences public.

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence (IPV), is abusive behaviour between two people who are in an intimate relationship.  This type of behaviour is intended to ‘gain and maintain power and control’  over the victim, and can include: Physical abuse  or battery; sexual abuse (including marital rape), emotional abuse; verbal abuse, financial abuse, isolation and denial of vital services, stripping them of power and invariably denying them their rights.

And, typically in the case of in the case of sick persons with no other help around  –  the withholding food or medication, as well as refusing to help the abused person who is sick.  It could also extend to include forcing the victim to engage in substance abuse or  other socially unacceptable activities.

POWERLESS

Invariably, women who are not socially and economically empowered, and must depend on their spouses for financial sustenance  are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to negotiating condom use, or making firm decisions about substance abuse.  Particularly, if they are unemployed and lack the wherewithal to provide for themselves, they find themselves ‘between a rock and a hard place’ when such demands are made of them.

And in the case of philandering husbands who pose a potential risk for exposing their wives and multiple partners to HIV, such women, because they know their partners to be batterers, cannot speak out or refuse to be intimately involved with them, for fear of being battered.  If, on the other hand, the women suggest to such men that they should use condoms, it is greeted with suspicion, accompanied by the full force of battery, since ‘they’ are immediately perceived as being HIV-infected and accused by the husbands of infidelity.

Ironically, domestic violence which initially started with nagging, moved to a slap and later escalated into incest on the rebound, and eventually murder.

Domestic Violence and HIV: The Nexus

“Gender violence and sexual harassment contribute to women’s HIV risk through, physiological, social and economic pathways,” experts say.

The World Bank, in its handbook, ‘Legal Aspects of HIV/AIDS’, adds: “HIV transmission risk increases during violent or forced sex situations, because abrasions caused by forced penetration, facilitate entry of the virus. ”  It points out  that women who are beaten or dominated by their partners are much more likely to become infected by HIV due to their lack of power over their bodies and sexual lives.  “Fear of violence undermines women’s ability to seek treatment.  Finally, women who are victims of sexual harassment are more likely to engage in behaviours  that place them at risk for acquiring HIV,” the document concludes.

HUMAN RIGHTS POSITION

The report revealed that, International Human Rights Laws obligate nations to ensure that women are not subjected to gender violence.  The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, recommends that states implement legal measures, including penal sanctions to protect women from all kinds of violence.

The World Bank further reports that many states have responded by enacting legislation criminalizing rape, domestic abuse and sexual harassment. However, it says, because gender violence and sexual harassment encompasses so many forms of abuse, no single legal approach can protect women collectively and punish the perpetrator for the crime.   It submits that:  The successful implementation of  protection against sexual harassment can be greatly enhanced through social and economic empowerment of women to protect themselves.

A ROLE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY

In Guyana, caregivers, women’s groups and other non-governmental organizations, through education al programmes, have begun to make considerable impact empowering women to become economically liberated, to negotiate condom use, as well as to protect themselves from exploitation.

Among the groups alluded to are:  Help and Shelter;  The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and other Faith-Based Organisations; Women Across Differences which offers financial help to set up income generating projects for vulnerable women and those dismembered through domestic violence;  the Caribbean People International Collective (CPIC) which continues to roll out its ‘SISTA’ Training Project (Sistas Informing Sistas on Topics about AIDS) in Georgetown  and ‘CISHA Partners’ (Containing the Impact and Spread of HIV /AIDS) .