This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations-designated “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women”. It is commemorated in various parts of the world, with their varying cultures and civilisations, and although the manifestations of violence may differ, their underlying core and effect remain the same for the victims. This year, the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) has been at the forefront of the commemoration activities and has underscored new legislation where “there is greater emphasis on prevention, in educating and encouraging women and persons who are aware of violent situations to seek help. In other words, there must be tangible support at the front.” GAWL then demanded that “The Ministry of Education and schools across the country must take immediate action to teach young people the damaging effects of violence and challenge harmful behaviours. The workplace, too, must foster environments of respect where non-violence is not optional but expected.”

In certain countries, women are treated as chattels owned by their husbands, are precluded from pursuing higher education and professions, are subject to ‘honour killings’, cannot wear clothing of their choice, are beaten and brutalised at the whims of their husbands, and are secluded from contact with all except their immediate families. In wars and civil conflicts, women and children suffer most by being killed, sexually assaulted, or tortured. While in Guyana and other Western countries, such barbaric behaviour never occurs or is extremely rare, the suffering, the physical harm, and the psychological trauma inflicted on women are qualitatively the same as in non-Western countries.

In Western countries, violence manifests in personal attacks on individual women, for example, when women are returning from work in the evenings or merely walking in the streets, and such attacks often end in robbery, rape, or sexual violence. Another prevalent type is domestic violence, which includes not only spousal violence but also violence between various members of a family, such as between father and daughter, children and mother, or siblings. Such violence ranges from physical brutalisation to psychological pressure and hurt and the constant envelopment of fear among family members. It could also include the denial of basic needs to weaker family members.

The police and the law are expected to provide protection and hope to victims of gender violence, but they generally prove inadequate because they often operate on the underlying assumption that domestic violence is a private matter in which they should not intervene. In cases of violence outside the home, such as rape, the burden of proof is frequently placed on the victim.

Violence against women results in serious societal and economic damage. It is a human rights violation; it negatively affects children, leads to discrimination against women (e.g., lower pay for the same work or being denied promotions), and effectively excludes a large percentage of the population from contributing to the economic productivity and well-being of the country.

In addition to efforts by the state and a few NGOs to confront the problem, we suggest the following:

Many women do not know they are victims of domestic violence because they have never encountered the concept. Once they understand it, they will have a clearer understanding of their plight and realise they can change it. The media and education system must assume responsibility for enlightening the population in this regard.

The laws addressing violence against women need constant review and modernisation, and GAWL could make a valuable contribution.

From the earliest years of schooling, boys should be socialised to respect girls and women and treat them with fairness.

Violence against women is largely a man’s problem, and men should be strongly encouraged to exert peer pressure on one another to treat women with respect and fairness. This could be achieved through sports clubs, NGOs, and business groups.

We end this offering by quoting GAWL’s call to the nation: “Every citizen must stand up and demand change, highlighting that violence against women must end, and it is only through collective action that we can create a safer, more just society for all.”