The recent comments by Commander Clifton Hicken that women should dress less provocatively to discourage sexual violence, is ‘distressing and disturbing’ according to the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) which also lashed out at the Guyana Police Force for attempting to justify the comments that were made.
The GAWL on Friday said that from the comments made it is clear that a lot of work still needs to be done at all levels of the force to train and sensitize ranks on violence against women including sexual violence.
In a press release, the GAWL said that on November 25, 2014, “United Nations Day against Violence Against Women” will be observed; not only as an occasion to salute all women and in particular those who have conquered domestic and sexual violence and stand tall with their self – esteem intact but to mourn those women who were not so fortunate and who lost their lives or were severely injured.
The release stated that it is the association’s constant regret however, that each year when this day is observed, there is a recent occurrence which highlights the continuing tragedy that women are exposed to in their homes and otherwise through violence. “Violence against women, whether domestic or not, is a crime,” the association said while emphasizing that women who are sexually assaulted in any manner are victims and nothing else.
“In this context we register our consternation at the recent remarks of Senior Superintendent of the Guyana Police Force, Mr Clifton Hicken, who displayed a shocking lack of understanding in relation to the subject of sexual assault and the focus of the Sexual Offences Act by stating that girls must ‘dress morally’ to avoid attracting a rapist,” the release said.
GAWL is the latest grouping to express outrage at the commander’s comments which were made a week ago during the launch of the Christmas Policing Plan. At the time he was providing stats for crimes that would have occurred in the Division up to that point and while providing the numbers for incidents of rape, he spoke of the dress of women urging that it should be done to meet moral standards.
GAWL said that having heard Hicken’s remarks in their entirety “there is nothing about the context in which he was speaking that is capable of excusing or justifying the remarks. The attempt by the Guyana Police Force to justify these remarks therefore has no basis or merit. It is extremely unfortunate that his views appear to be representative of the psyche of the Guyana Police Force as is evidenced by its press release.”
The press release stressed that women have a right to self-determine their mode of dress and this right cannot be properly infringed or circumscribed on the basis of the perceptions or inclinations of criminals.
“Both internationally and regionally, there have been significant strides over the years in the fight to eliminate violence against women and the postulations of the Guyana Police regarding mode of dress of women have been long debunked and discredited as being untenable,” it stated.
It went on to state that the GAWL also wonders if this reversal of the victim into the person who is ‘asking for it’ “is a ruse or excuse for the police to not vigorously investigate reports of sexual violence, and to absolve the force from blame when their investigation is found wanting, resulting in a lack of charge or acquittal.”
GAWL used the opportunity to remind women and girls that their dress has absolutely nothing to do with their potential for becoming a victim of sexual assault. “In fact, nuns, young children—including infants and elderly women are constantly preyed upon. One must also note the fact that many women are violated in the confines of their homes,” the release said.
Since the comments were made there have been daily protests in front of the Commander’s Brickdam office asking him to resign from his post.
