TACOMA, Washington — Gender-based violence is vastly prevalent in Guyana. Domestic abuse, sexual harassment, psychological abuse and human trafficking are some of the many ways in which gender-based violence continues to perpetuate Guyanese society. The effects of gender-based violence not only threaten the well-being and safety of those affected by gender-based violence but also impedes the overall well-being of society. Gender-based violence occurs more frequently against women, particularly in the form of domestic violence. Domestic abuse, or intimate partner violence, can be defined as any form of abuse used to control, hurt or intimidate an intimate partner.
Prevalence of Domestic Violence in Guyana
Although accurate statistics reflecting the prevalence of domestic violence in Guyana have not been released for more than a decade, the prevalence of domestic violence in Guyana is undeniable. More than half of Guyana’s female population reported having experienced some form of domestic abuse. The University of Guyana finds that the “incidence of domestic violence by an intimate or previous intimate partner in Guyana increased from 74.8% in 2011 to 89% in 2017”, with more than 80% of the victims being female.
Some of the leading factors contributing to the prevalence of Guyana’s domestic violence problem include alcoholism, societal norms, intergenerational violence, drug consumption and child marriage. In many instances, social pressures to maintain a “perfect image” prevent women from reporting incidents of domestic abuse. Concerns related to financial dependence, children, stigmatization and fear of an even more abusive relationship are also cited as reasons why Guyanese women remain in abusive relationships.
Vrinda Jagan, owner of and principal attorney at The Jagan Law Firm, works with a predominantly Guyanese clientele, as her firm is located in Richmond Hill, New York, a city with a large Guyanese demographic. Speaking with The Borgen Project, Jagan affirms that domestic abuse persists within Guyanese populations, largely because “this abuse has been accepted for so long that the younger generations have continued to accept it.” She explains that many of her clients, who are women who have emigrated from Guyana, are hesitant to speak up about the domestic abuse that they have endured for the sake of their children, financial security and fear of being looked down upon or judged.
Jagan herself is a Guyanese woman who, in addition to her direct legal work with Guyanese domestic violence survivors, handles many pro bono projects related to domestic violence, serving as a voice for survivors.
Legislation Related to Domestic Violence
Domestic violence has essentially become a normalized part of Guyanese culture in spite of the Guyanese government’s efforts to curb it. Guyana’s Domestic Violence Act, enacted in 1996, grants legal protection to those who have been affected by domestic violence and provides the legal framework for domestic violence cases. The act defines domestic violence as any form of verbal, physical or psychological abuse or violence and includes detailed examples of what qualifies as domestic violence. The act also explicitly details the role that Guyana’s police force is expected to play in upholding the Domestic Violence Act along with the various degrees of protection that victims of domestic violence are able to apply for.
Guyana’s Sexual Violence Act, passed in 2010, calls for stricter consequences for those who commit acts of sexual offenses, strengthening the Domestic Violence Act.
Although these acts demonstrate the efforts of the Guyanese government in prohibiting domestic violence, they fail to tackle the intergenerational norm of domestic abuse that has become a part of Guyanese culture. The government must do a better job of enforcing laws against domestic violence and raise greater awareness about the dangers of domestic abuse for society.
Domestic Violence and Suicide in Guyana
Guyana also has one of the highest suicide mortality rates in the world, a problem directly linked to domestic violence. In 2014, the World Health Organization declared Guyana the country with “the highest suicide rate in the world” amounting to four times that of the global average, with 44.2 suicides accounting for every 100,000 deaths.
Many of these suicides result from conflicts between spousal or intimate partners, often the result of domestic violence. Jealousy, depression, psychological harm and increased levels of drug and alcohol consumption are all results of domestic violence that are also leading causes of suicide in Guyana. Suicide, linked to domestic violence, not only profoundly affects both the perpetrators and victims of domestic violence, but often also their friends and family members.
The Correlation Between Domestic Abuse and Poverty
The nationwide poverty that engulfs Guyana should be one of the most compelling forces for ensuring the elimination of domestic violence as there is a direct correlation between domestic violence and poverty. The World Bank finds that, in many countries, “Violence against women is estimated to cost countries up to 3.7% of their GDP—more than double what most governments spend on education.” Domestic violence survivors are almost always left in at some state of vulnerability, whether it be physically, emotionally, financially or psychologically. This vulnerability impedes the ability of an individual to succeed in the world and their ability to contribute to the well-being of society.
Using Education and Law Enforcement to End Domestic Violence
The education and law enforcement sectors are key to eliminating domestic violence in Guyana. Law enforcement exists in order to protect humans from violence and uphold the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed to people by their country’s laws. By permitting domestic violence, Guyana’s law enforcement fails to protect its people and the values of the country.
Jagan explains that in order to tackle the intergenerational stigmas surrounding domestic violence, it is “important to empower and teach our younger generations so that they can accomplish the world independently and have safe, healthy relationships.” Younger Guyanese generations must recognize that domestic abuse, or any type of abuse, is not normal to assert or be the recipient of. Once this occurs, domestic violence will widely be recognized as a violation of the most basic human rights, instead of a cultural norm.
– Stacy Moses
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