With the growing increase in domestic violence, mostly being committed against women, a group of men joined the many voices in condemning the scourge by mounting a silent protest yesterday outside the High Court on Avenue of the Republic.
Men employed with the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) and members of its male youth arms, Men Of Purpose (MOP) and Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM), joined hands in their effort to highlight the message denouncing domestic violence which has been on the increase in recent times.
Flanked by two banners which read ‘Men Standing up Against Domestic Violence’ and ‘Men Joining Hands Against Domestic Violence’, the group stood for half an hour outside the court in an effort to get the message over to men that violence against womenfolk is not the way to go.
But yesterday’s action would not be the only one taken by the group of men as Executive Director of GRPA, Fredrick Cox disclosed that the group would be travelling to all ten administrative regions in an effort to sensitise menfolk on domestic violence and committees would be set up to work with the men in the respective region.
According to Cox the group feels strongly that every woman has the right to be able to live a life free of violence and that she should be allowed to develop and maximise to the fullest her innate potential as she would then be in a better position to make a contribution to the development of her family, her community and to society as a whole. He said that the group is prepared to leave no stone unturned in its effort to ensure that women are given that opportunity.
“We want to help to stop the senseless killing of our women and mothers and ultimately to remove the scourge of domestic violence from our society,” Cox said.
He said that the activity was prompted because they noticed an “apparent” increase in domestic violence not only against women but also children. He said they want men to understand that there are better ways in settling conflicts. Cox said that while he is aware that some men are being abused, when one looks at the percentage of men to women being abused the number of women being abused far outstrips cases of men.
The group’s work would also include working with women to make them understand that retaliation is not the way to go and they would also try to ensure that victims are given professional help.
‘Relevant information’
Meanwhile, Cox was asked about his group’s position on allegations made by former First Lady Varshnie Singh of “high-tech domestic violence” by President Bharrat Jagdeo. Cox said without the relevant information his group cannot intervene. He said that they like everyone else have seen what Singh has said as well as what President Jagdeo has said and so they cannot make a pronouncement.
He however pointed out that they are aware of the president’s position on domestic violence as he is against it and has allocated money to them to fight the scourge.
“GRPA or MOP is not going to get involved in any public issue unless we get the necessary information,” he said. He said from what they have heard there is not enough for them to make a pronouncement.
And according to Cox, “at some point or the other everyone has been involved in domestic violence” as the issue is not just about physical abuse.
He went on to say that there is no “perfectionist” in anyone and one should consider “the stress and strain of living.” He said that many times a husband may go home while under a lot of stress and may make some comment that can have some repercussion on what the wife does.
At a press conference on January 20 after she had been given notice to leave State House, Singh said, “It is funny and sad to hear the politicians talk about the campaign against domestic violence, investing millions to stamp it out, etc. when what I am experiencing is hi-tech domestic violence and persecution.
Our president is using his office and state resources including ministers unprofessionally to disadvantage a woman.”
She also complained of poor treatment by the President during their marriage and said that she did not receive proper maintenance or care during the union.
In a statement issued that evening, President Jagdeo denied some of the claims while stating his unwillingness to get into a public contest over what he said was a one-sided recount of their period together. With Singh accepting there is no constitutional or statutory position of First Lady, Jagdeo noted that whatever benefit she received was solely because of her marriage to him.
As a result, he said it would have posed an ethical dilemma and he questioned the example he was setting if they separated and she continued to have access to state resources for her private work. “I wish her well in the future and I just want to go on with my life,” he said.
At a press conference last month, the President had also declined to respond to questions over the legality of his marriage after Singh disclosed at a subsequent meeting with the media that their marriage had not been registered.
They were married according to Hindu rites in 1998.
The two announced a separation in 2007.
