Dear Editor,
The continuous impunity for violence against women is pointing to a serious dereliction of duty by the state, which has the responsibility to prevent and protect women from all forms of discrimination as enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana and the CEDAW Convention to which Guyana is signatory.
Editor, violence against women is the most pervasive form of discrimination against women as is evidenced by the many horrible cases of spousal abuse that permeate the daily print media. That domestic violence remains a public health phenomenon makes it high priority for states to act to seriously address this public health problem. (UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon)
In November 2013 all members of parliament met at the Arthur Chung Conven-tion Centre at a National Conference for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence, and they put 58 recommendations on paper to assist with curbing this phenomenon. There were also civil society groups, NGOs as well as FBOs all putting their heads together to craft these 58 recommendations. Following this national conference a national committee for the formulation of recommendations in relation to the national plan of action for violence prevention was set up. This committee last held a meeting on the February 4, 2015 and despite meeting with the new Public Security Minister on October 29, 2015 and asking for this committee to continue functioning, it has practically become impotent!
The assurances that ‘the state cares about the increasing incidents of violence against women’ must be backed up by concrete action which proves that the state does indeed care. It is time to walk the talk, and as a survivor of spousal abuse I call upon the state to perform its duty to prevent and protect women form all forms of abuse.
I call upon the state to rejuvenate the National Committee for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence and to implement the 58 recommendations forthwith!
Yours faithfully,
Nicole Cole
Commissioner
Women and Gender Equality
Commission
Rights of the Child Commission