–help end rape, sexual violence

LOCAL NGO, CPIC Monique’s, is calling on members of civil society to get up and do something about the growing incidence of sexual violence here, particularly after the recent molestation and killing of 13-year-old Berbice schoolboy, Leonard Archibald.

Using as their tag-line the slogan, ‘No More Leonardos’, so named after young Archibald, to launch their campaign, the group proposes to unite and strengthen communities all across Guyana in its quest to help end sexual assault and abuse on children.

“Dedicated to inspiring cultural change and advancing societal progress, ‘No More Leonardos’ must create public awareness campaigns, marketing tools and communications resources for all civil society, large and small,” says CPIC Monique’s CEO, Dr. Dawn Stewart in a recent press release.

The idea, she says, is to encourage persons of all walks of life, and either sex, to be a part of the solution, and to understand that the underlying cause of rape and sexual violence is deeply rooted in early trauma.

Noting that the young Berbician’s death has helped bring to the fore the issue of child abuse and trauma, Dr Stewart says in her missive:

“Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among males has frequently not been recognised, with a resulting underreporting of males as victims of CSA.

“The lack of awareness of men as sexual victims has been accompanied by a dearth of empirical studies on male CSA and attendant issues, such as the long-term psychological, behavioral and physical
consequences experienced by such men.

“It’s critical that we understand that distress from abuse can present itself in many forms, including somatic complaints, grief, and social problems, and that children and youth today face increased trauma, ranging from violence in the homes to sexual assaults.”

She also advocates that we address the perpetrator as well as the victim, and what in sociological circles is called “The Dynamics of Bystander Effects”, which is another way of saying, in Archibald’s case for instance, that although neighbours heard the child’s anguished screams coming from the house of one of the two perpetrators, no one thought of going to his aid.

Quoting Dr. Theresa Betancourt, lead author of ‘The Journal of Traumatic Stress study’, Dr Stewart said:
“Helping families navigate their new environments successfully can be a critical step in engaging communities, and also building relationships needed to address unmet mental health needs due to past trauma and loss.

“Some of the best models we have seen across the world employ outreach, family-based prevention and home visiting, and school-based models to meet families where they are and to help them build their new lives and hopeful futures.

“I urge NGOs, community organisations, business leaders and all of Guyana to take up the mantle and let this movement be known as, ‘No more Leonardos: Leonardos against sexual violence’.”