Dear Editor,
Help & Shelter has noted the headline report in the Guyana Chronicle of February 28 of a female student who was reportedly gang raped on the UG campus and the report in Stabroek News of February 29 that UG has said that its investigation has revealed no basis to conclude that the student was sexually assaulted.
We await further information as there is considerable conflict between the contents of the two reports.
Irrespective of whether the student was sexually assaulted, since credible research shows that university and college campuses, especially those which have residential housing for students, are high on the list of places where women are at increased risk of sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence including sexual harassment, it is imperative that the measures that the university has said that it is taking to enhance security on campus include mechanisms to ensure that all students who form part of the university body, and in particular female students, are given the necessary support and protection from all forms of sexual violence.
In particular, we recommend that UG immediately introduce:
- a policy which outlaws and criminalizes all forms of sexual violence including sexual harassment;
- protocols which clearly outline all steps which must be taken by UG to address reports of sexual violence, including reporting procedures and referral to services and relevant feedback;
- support services for students who are survivors of sexual violence, including psycho- social counselling on site and/or arrangements with other competent social services;
- a campus-wide ongoing informational and educational programme, including IEC materials for all students and staff on rape, rape culture, rape myths, victim blaming, sexual violence, the Sexual Offences Act, links between gender and sexual violence, what to do if raped or sexually assaulted, and UG’s policy and protocols for addressing sexual violence;
- mandatory signing onto the policy for the prevention of rape and sexual violence by all students and academic and non-academic staff; and
- adequate security for students’ safety in and around the campus.
Help & Shelter, with its 20 years of experience in counselling and court support services for survivors of sexual violence and public education programmes, is ready and available to offer its services to assist UG students and the UG administration in prevention and protection from the scourge of sexual violence, which continues unabated and without adequate investigation, protection, prosecution and support for the most part in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Danuta Radzik
Josephine Whitehead
Gaitrie Shivsankar
For Help & Shelter
