AS Guyana joins the world in the fight to end violence against women, Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon has turned attention to the judicial system for what he calls “errant judgments [and] sentencing” in dealing with cases of violence against women. 

“It is important for the gap, if any, between what we intended to achieve… the tools we are using, and the results we are getting to be highlighted continuously,” Dr. Luncheon told reporters during his weekly post-Cabinet press conference.
In light of a poor conviction rate, the Cabinet Secretary was asked to comment on the effectiveness of the 1996 Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act of 2010 in dealing with cases which apply to the legislation, and he said: “The most learned and appropriate response is that all could still be lost by errant judgments [and] sentencing.”
On Tuesday, the United Nations observed ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’.
Dr. Luncheon disclosed that Cabinet on that day “observed a minute of silence for the generations of women who have and continue to be victims of gender-based violence in Guyana.”
At an interfaith ceremony held by the Human Services Ministry marking the day’s observance on Tuesday, subject Minister Jennifer Webster revealed that Guyana has recorded ten domestic violence related deaths thus far for 2014 while 20 were recorded in 2013.
“Many of our women are still being denied access to justice because it takes time for the investigation process to be completed,” Minister Webster said as she called for lawmakers and investigators to act swiftly in investigating and trying cases of violence against women.
At that event, UNFPA Resident Representative, Patrice La Fleur urged greater effort in dealing with the issue since it extends across social, cultural and economic dimensions.
La Fleur quoted the words of UNFPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin saying, “we can have all the laws and policies but if we do not change our traditions, our norms and values which continue to promote violence against women and girls, society will continue to experience the violations which we see daily.”

MAJOR CONCERN
Asked whether there are considerations for improving the ability of the judicial system and law enforcement to recognise legislation dealing with domestic violence cases, Dr. Luncheon stated this is a major concern for Cabinet.
He said criticisms from the international community have been levelled against Guyana since the presence of laws in the Guyana system is undermined by weak enforcement. Commenting on statistical evidence of poor conviction rates, he said that “it doesn’t speak of the intent of this remarkable series of interventions that pivot around the legislative environment that has been created.”
Explaining the way forward, the Cabinet Secretary underlined education as an important part of the fight against domestic and other forms of violence against women. But on the question of reducing the many cases, he said that “we feel education, capacity-building and strengthening the stakeholders in applying the laws and about gender-based violence would have an impact.”
Dr. Luncheon spoke at length on the separation of powers, and hinted that while the Executive, being the Government, cannot compel the Judiciary to act, “we can only continue to exert our colleagues on the executive side to collect and compile the information that reflects on performances of the Judiciary.”

(Derwayne Wills)