Issue of sexual abuse against our women and children needs urgent and drastic attention

Dear Editor,
Over the past few weeks, the headlines in the local daily newspapers have highlighted the plight of women and girls in Guyana, as it relates to sexual crimes committed against these categories of citizens.

Sexual violence against females is nothing new in Guyana, but we must admit that the degree, extent, prevalence, or pervasiveness of this new wave of sex crimes would shock our conscience.

It appears as though the moral fabric in our society has decayed to such as extent that normal decency has been replaced by a spirit of lust and sexual greed, which render even the children and mothers of abusers as ready victims.

Permit me, to just restate some of the damning headlines which appeared in the newspapers for this month, so far. To begin the month of February we read in Kaieteur News; dated 02/01/2009, “Parents host man, 31, for sex with daughter, 13”. In this case it was reported that three young girls were prostituted out by their parents in their home, in exchange for money, the 13-year-old was found to be sexually active, according to medical report.

The question is why? How can people commit such travesty against their own flesh and blood?
Then on 02/04/2009 same papers, headline reads “Man charged for indecent assault of step daughter”, child involved just 10 years old. On that same day another headline reads “Woman 40, raped and beaten at Bath Settlement”.

February 6, 2009 the victim again was a 13-year-old the headline; “Trio on rape allegation released”. Said day headline; “Policeman hides 12-year-old girl for two weeks”, medical examination to be done to determine whether child was sexually active.

Still on Feb. 6, a 51-year-old man on the loose after allegedly fondling nine-year-old girl, the headline “51 yrs old man on the run after fondling girl, 9”.

Next day “Photographer charged with fondling girl, 10”, was the headline. Feb. 11, 2009 KN headline reads “Poultry farmer lands carnal knowledge charge”, the victim a 14-year-old girl. Said day another headline reads “Essequibo man rapes mother”, the allege perpetrator 25-year-old son.

It was reported that the man raped his mother on several occasions while she was under the influence of alcohol. Then, on February 14 the headline in SN read.

“Police probing report, school girl drugged, raped”, the victim 15 years old. Same day and said papers second headline, “De Kindren man remanded over carnal knowledge”, victim girl under 15 years.

Let me pause here to reflect on this inconceivable rage of sexual violence which has now plagued our nation.
This situation presents a sense of lost that requires urgent attention and drastic measures. It is time that we, as a nation seek the real reasons for this kind of plague which has beseeched the country.

For too long we have been addressing deep seated problems with plastic surgery, band aid kind of solutions without ascertaining the real genesis of the problem.

We have not revolutionized our thinking to allow for bold, sensible logical action to be taken to address our problems.

It is time we endorse scientific research designed to aid us in our attempt to find meaningful solutions to the multiplicity of social, economic, and other problems which have now engulf our nation.

I have read the Minister’s, Priya Manickchand’s comments in SN, dated 02/17/2009, where she commented that violence against women, in Guyana, has increased, this observation is well noted and justified by the everyday report; the question is what can, sensibly, be done to curb this unwarranted phenomenon?

The Minister also, correctly, stated that action can only be done to help these women if they report their situation to the relevant authorities.

So here the big problem of women not wanting to come forth is identified, the obvious question now becomes why?

Why are these innocent victims reluctant to report their perils to the police or the Ministry of Human and Social Services?

We can speculate all we want about the reasons these victims are not coming forth, and some of our answers might, in fact be part of the reasons; but the true solution lies in unearthing all the possible rationales, for the lack of enthusiasm to report abuse.

These reasons must be grounded in a complete scientific research, where empirical data are gathered to explain findings and, thereby, advance suitable recommendations.

While we seem to know what the problem is, since it is before our very eyes, our responsibility is to find workable solution appears to be wound up in a one track and out-moded thinking.

So, my advice to the Minister is to let’s get serious about addressing this problem of domestic violence and sexual abuse against our women and girls and launch an extensive investigation into the issue.

There is no need to look outside of Guyana for researchers and skilled personnel to undertake this challenge, since the University of Guyana, I believe, is capable of providing the kind of skilled human capital we need to execute same.

Every year the Social Sciences Faculty turns out a number of well trained and qualified persons who can readily be recruited to undertake such an assignment.

Or, maybe an inter-agency approach can be developed whereby, the Ministry of Human and Social Services collaborate with the University of Guyana to investigate this dangerous, and disgusting phenomenon.

The female section of our society continues to be mercilessly abused, sexually and otherwise while we appear clueless as to how to approach the problem in a holistic manner.

It is time we call all the relevant professionals to sit around the table and craft out an agenda to uncover the most realistic and logical approach to deal with this problem.

This is an issue which requires us to develop a genuine non-partisan stand to protect the females in our society.

The situation can get no worst, when a man can rape his own mother and a father can rape his own daughter it is time for drastic action, by collective means.
Lurlene Nestor