By Bibi Khatoon
As Guyana joins with the rest of the world in observing International Women’s Day, First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger has recognised that the precedence of gender-based violence has become banal in our society.
Addressing the launch of the UK’s Fourth National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2018 – 2022 on Wednesday evening, Mrs. Granger pointed out that, “It seems not a single day passes without there being a report of someone raped, brutalized or murdered, usually by an intimate or previously intimate partner.”
She disclosed that reported incidence of domestic violence by an intimate partner increased from 74.8 percent in 2011 to 89 percent in 2017 with females accounting for 80 percent of the victims.
“The highest number of these crimes occur in regions three, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne). These regions account for roughly three-quarter of incidences of gender-based violence,” Mrs. Granger noted.
The National Action plan is a five-year strategy detailing how the UK will meet its international obligations. It points to the fact that women and girls are more likely to see their rights curtailed in times of conflict including access to basic services.
Though “conflict” in this instance refers to countries in a war zone, the First Lady said there are Guyanese women who are in fact living in a state of conflict.
“This leads me to believe that many of our sisters are living in a conflict situation, having access to neither peace nor security, much less stability. They do not have faith in a system in which reports of domestic violence are treated as bothersome if not dismissed,” she highlighted.
In her remarks, she acknowledged that this may be due several victims opting to drop the matter when it is prosecuted due to various circumstances.
However, she pointed out that “it is critical that empirical research is conducted into the root causes of violence in our society and particularly gender-based violence so that we can analyse and determine how it may be addressed and eliminated through collaborative government-stakeholder action.”
The National Action Plan is built on four pillars; prevention of conflict and all forms of violence against women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations, participation of women equally with men with gender equality being promoted in decision-making processes on peace and security at all levels, protection and promotion of women’s and girls’ rights in conflict-affected situation and relief and recovery with women and girls’ specific needs met.
According to British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, the plan is part of the UK’s concerted effort to ensure that British foreign policy consistently delivers for women and girls.
In his remarks to those gathered at his Bel Air Gardens residence, the High Commissioner said “globally, 1 in 3 women are beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime,” as he warned “beating your wife or girlfriend does not make you a man. It makes you a coward.”
Quinn noted that “empowering women and girls improve peace and stability, economic growth and poverty reduction. Supporting gender equality is something I will continue to do, even in the face of questions and criticisms from some. It is the right thing to do and it is the smart thing to do. Full stop.”
Also addressing the gathering of politicians and representatives from various women’s organizations was Guyana’s UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Mikko Tanaka who outlined that despite some progress, there is much more to be done.
Copies of the plan were handed over to the First Lady, Ms. Tanaka, Minister of Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira and Chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Indra Chanderpaul.
International Women’s Day is being observed under the theme #PressForProgress –a theme which speaks for itself as the fight for gender equality continues.
