— W&GEC calls for removal of “patriarchal laws”
By Rehana Ahamad

THE year 2020 has been a difficult one for many people and for many reasons; one of them being the fact that the majority of abused women are being forced to maintain social distancing from almost everybody except their abusers, who are most often their significant others, sharing the same living quarters.
Fortunately though, more and more victims are choosing to reach out for help instead of remaining silent. This has seen a mammoth surge in the number of persons calling various helplines and hotlines, including those manned by Help and Shelter, one of Guyana’s most prominent Non-Government Organisations (NGO).
According to Colin Marks, Director and Coordinator of Help and Shelter, the amount of calls coming into the organisation has risen by some 300 per cent from March 2020, to date. It was during that month that Guyana’s first COVID-19 case was detected.

The increase in those seeking help has resulted in Help and Shelter being maxed out on accommodations.
“Our ceiling is 22, but we are currently at 23, and that includes a few children… minors, that is,” Marks posited.
A recent statement from the organisation indicated that some 35 women with their children had to have been turned away from the facility, as the Shelter continues to operate within the COVID-19 guidelines.

“We couldn’t even accommodate some of the victims and survivors who were reaching out to us, so we really had to do a lot networking with other organisations and Government agencies to ensure we find places for these women,” Marks said.

The Help and Shelter Director explained that the organisation has a policy of accommodating each woman for a guaranteed period of six months. During that time, the victims are all exposed to various training and capacity building sessions, and counseling, all of which seek to empower them to detach themselves from their perpetrators and overcome their fears and insecurities.
Following the guaranteed six-month stay, individual cases are assessed so as to determine the risks and threats that a victim could face after leaving the facility. In cases where a woman’s safety is threatened, or she faces the threat of homelessness, accommodation is generously extended.

HELP FOR PERPETRATORS

“In addition to assisting women, we also have services that help many of the male perpetrators of abuse, as well,” Marks highlighted, noting that “often times you would find that perpetrators were victims themselves, so they too need help to be better and to do better”.
The social rights activist explained that there have been many cases where perpetrators are mandated by the court to seek help. In addition to offering couple’s counselling and therapy, the organisation also has a programme called “Male Psycho-Education”, which focuses on self-awareness, anti-violence methods of coping, conflict management, and perpetrator accountability.
“One of the youngest persons that I have seen be part of the programme was a 19-year-old male. The eldest was 70 years of age,” Marks recalled.
He emphasised the benefits of one particular component of the programme called ‘Convo Therapy’, which encourages men and boys to share their past hurt and traumas, while promoting healthy navigation, acceptance and expression of male emotions.

17 WOMEN KILLED, 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
Meanwhile, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls is observed on November 25, annually. For the 2020 observances, the world has come together to promote 16 days of activism via social media. This has kicked off with much participation from Guyanese on various platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
In a recent statement addressing violence against women and girls, the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, acknowledged the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on some vulnerable groups, particularly the female population.

“The COVID 19 pandemic has kept many women in proximity to their abusers, and reporting has become challenging,” the minister posited.
She also reflected on recent crime statistics which indicated some 17 women being killed by their spouses thus far in 2020. This, she said, has left 48 children motherless.
“Fists, knives, guns, hurtful words… continue to be used instead of discussion or counselling,” Dr. Persaud lamented.

The minister recognised too that despite the alarming domestic violence figures, many women are still cowering in fear.
“Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits, and dead bodies. Fear of societal judgment, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation keep this a hushed conversation… or result in an overwhelming silence,” Dr. Persaud said.
Most recently, just a few days before the world observed International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, 28-year-old Amrita Rahim was killed by her abusive husband. She leaves to mourn her three children, ages 11, 10 and eight.
Police reports indicate that 32-year-old Taijram Rahim, a cane harvester from West Bank Berbice, had accused his wife of infidelity just before stabbing her in the chest as she laid on their bed.

PATRIARCHAL SYSTEM

Adding its voice to the conversation was the Women and Gender Equality Commission (W&GEC). In a statement issued on Thursday, the body said that it has recognised Guyana’s legal system to be one that is patriarchal and lacks gender neutrality.

“In analysing this problem one has to recognise that Guyana inherited its legal system from European colonists who believed that women were inferior to men,” the statement said.
The constitutional body went on to issue a call for decision makers at all levels and various institutions to “denounce the culture of tolerance for violence against women and girls by ensuring they take the requisite actions to name and shame those guilty of perpetuating such actions”.

“Public pressure is needed to help change the attitude of citizens and public officials to one of zero tolerance of Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” the statement added.
W&GEC believes that “Men have been given a variety of social privileges such as personal and political power over women, including legal, economic and sexual advantages.”
“This is the elephant in the room which needs to be addressed,” the body insisted.