I wrote this article about a year ago under the caption “Women In Danger,” after I was moved by the unprecedented slaughter in 2008. It continued last year. I did not think it could get worse. To my shock and horror, the violence against women as a result of domestic abuse has degenerated this year into a monstrous obscenity and ought to be treated as an emergency by the Government. In order to highlight this situation, I re-publish this article below with only two small amendments, one being a modest suggestion, to treat with the situation today.
Hardly a month goes by without a report of a wife, married or reputed, living with her husband or separated, being gruesomely murdered as a result of a domestic dispute. Invariably, a history of domestic violence preceded the murder which could have been easily predicted. Unfortunately, many women are either trapped in such relationships, or are unable to escape the violence which is usually carefully planned and executed, or do not believe that a husband or former husband, however threatening, will resort to the ultimate atrocity. Whatever the cause, the situation demands emergency attention.
The combined financial, human, material and institutional resources which the state, the NGOs, the Police and the justice system have poured in the area of domestic violence prevention have clearly proved to be inadequate and the entire approach needs to be re-examined. The Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand, clearly trying her best, plaintively and perhaps, frustratingly, said that the Government cannot intervene unless it is aware of what is going on in the home, that is to say, unless official complaints are made. The reality is that the Government is never going to know because women do not often come forward for reasons that have nothing to do with their approbation of violence to themselves, and if they do, threats, discouragements and other inducements are deployed to dissuade them from pursuing their complaints.
Legislation on domestic violence has been in place for many years and it offers victims a wide array of remedies and preventative measures. The Police have become increasingly sensitive to complaints by women of domestic violence and the current Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, has encouraged additional steps by the Police. Ms. Manickchand’s Ministry, Help and Shelter, Red Thread and other NGOs have done much to educate the public and to give relief to women in distress, but the scourge continues. The question is, what is to be done?
The usual recourse in such situations by people like me who are aware that the issues are of great complexity is to advocate that a meeting be held or a conference be called to discuss the matter. But the reality appears to be that despite the efforts, which I believe to have been modest so far in relation to the magnitude of the problem, the scale of domestic violence against women, in particular, acts of murder, are undiminished. It is therefore necessary for all parties to get together to determine the approaches which are necessary, both short term for an immediate impact and long term to deal with the more intractable issues.
One area that I am deeply troubled about and which I have followed with some consternation, is that of the approach of the prosecutorial and judicial authorities in sentencing in relation to the killing of women. This observation has nothing to do with the personalities involved. It is a system which has developed over many years. Men charged with murder of women arising from domestic circumstances, almost always plead guilty to manslaughter. For this to happen, the prosecution has to accept the guilty plea to the lesser offence. The Judge has to agree also. But the prosecutor can refuse if the evidence exists to prove the case. The judge can also refuse to allow such a “compromise.” This “compromise” even happens in many cases where there is clear evidence of murder. This policy needs to change and change immediately. It needs no study, no financial or material or human resources. It does not need Government intervention. It does not need a decision by the Judicial Service Commission. It does not need the attention of the Chancellor or the Chief Justice. What I am saying is already known. Prosecutors simply have to stop and Judges simply have to shape up.
Sentencing of men for the manslaughter of women has become a national disgrace and I am shocked that there is no outcry at the leniency of the sentencing, varying from five years to ten in a bad case. A person convicted of rape, an offence of the most serious gravity against women, can expect, deservedly, a 20 year sentence. A wife killer gets off with a quarter or at most a half. The average sentence for rape is eight years and for manslaughter at least double. In the US these sentences are much higher. One is tempted to the conclusion that in Guyana we are still operating under the philosophy of ancient times that your wife is your property and that you can do whatever you wish with her. In the UK the reverse is the case.
The continuing scourge of domestic violence needs attention right now. The approach must change right now. The Government must be proactive and seek out cases of domestic abuse starting right now. The Ministry can no longer wait for reports. These are not difficult to find. If the Police reports complaints of domestic violence to the Ministry, intervention by social workers can be effected before ‘murderation’ takes place.
Unless this situation is treated as an emergency as I suggested since last year, the women of Guyana are sitting ducks for abusive husbands. (www.conversationtree.gy)