– Teixeira
THE approach to domestic violence now is different to what was culturally acceptable during the 1960s and 1970s when it was culturally acceptable for women to be beaten.

This, according to Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) member Mr. Gail Teixeira, was partly influenced by the WPO which contributed to a whole new cultural change.

“Today, 30 years later, there is less tolerance for domestic violence,” she stated.

Teixeira, speaking during a  panel discussion on domestic violence on the National Communications Network (NCN)  on November 21, said Guyana has made quantum leaps in this area and although there is still more to be done, the effort that was put into legislation, counselling services, protection orders and training for magistrates, judges and police and in particular the inclusion by President Bharrat Jagdeo of  hundreds of  leaders from faith based organizations, has brought about a different mindset from that which saw women as ‘chattels’ or ‘property’.
She declared that, according to Guyana’s constitution, women are recognized as equal partners.
“To have reached that zenith where the President of a country has taken the issue frontally clearly shows that we have changed,” Teixeira said.
The issue has seen a declaration by  business, religious, labour, political parties and women’s organizations that violence against women is non-partisan and everyone should have zero tolerance for domestic violence.
According to the WPO member, the level of violence that has been going on for years has changed since, in those days, there was no legislation, protection orders or anti-violence units.
In this regard, the WPO played an integral role in changing the mindset of people in the 1960s and 1970s when women were seen as properties of their partners.

Teixeira traced the period when the WPO fought to change the attitude of both men and women to domestic violence from one of acceptance to when women’s rights and protection became a priority on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) manifesto.
She said that by the 1980s, other groups were also coming together from different organizations with the focus on domestic violence and amending the sexual offences law.
The United Force (TUF) representative, Valerie Lowe, who was also a panelist, stressed the need for men to be more involved in addressing the issue. She is optimistic about the newly established Men’s Affairs Bureau (MAB).
Teixeira pointed out that both the Government and NGOs have done a lot to deal with the issue in terms of advocacy, information sharing and other aspects.
However there are still women who suffer in silence because of their mindsets.
Referring to the number of reported cases, Teixeira said it is difficult to say whether or not these cases indicate an increase in domestic violence since the law has made it easier for such cases to be reported and it could be an increase in reported cases and not an increase in the issue itself.
In her advice to women, Teixeira said that domestic violence “starts the first time he hits you and that should be the last time.”
She urged parents to work with their sons, grandsons and boys to reduce the level of what was once culturally acceptable behaviour.
“It is not acceptable to beat your partner or to be violent in any way,” she stated.