Underscoring the importance of providing a safe, secure and confidential space for survivors of domestic violence to report complaints and seek protection from the courts, the Judiciary yesterday opened domestic violence interview and virtual hearing rooms at the Leonora and Wales Magistrate’s Courts.
Speaking at the ceremony held yesterday afternoon at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards said that the rooms would undoubtedly provide a more discrete space for victims’ interaction with the judicial system.
She said that away from the publicity and even alleged perpetrators, victims would be able to privately go to those rooms from which protection orders can be sought, while court appearances would also be facilitated virtually where the circumstance so warrants.
She said that the facilities would also aid in arresting the issue of re-victimisation.
Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie who also delivered remarks at the event, lauded the move by the judiciary as one which he says now complements such facilities with which many police stations are already equipped.
The Top Cop said that such spaces aid in bolstering confidentiality and represents the judiciary’s commitment in ensuring meaningful support where needed.
The Chancellor said that the prevalence of domestic violence across the length and breadth of the country is now an undeniable scourge that transcends all divides and must be tackled frontally.
On this point, she noted that there had been increases in household tensions and domestic violence in its various forms as well as sexual violence; especially over the last year with many victims being locked-in with their abusers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said that for the period 2019 to 2020 5,758 domestic-violence related cases had been recorded, while noting that as troubling as this figure is, it does not account for the countless unreported cases.
Meanwhile, she said that 1,841 cases have so far been reported for this year.
Expressing gratitude to UNICEF which funded the projects, Chancellor Cummings-Edwards said they will enhance access to justice for all survivors.
She shared that the facilities at Leonora including furnishings were completed at a cost of $745,400; while those at Wales were a little lower—at $643,160.
The Chancellor has announced that the Judiciary will be working to ensure that all the Magistrate’s Courts in the country are outfitted with such facilities.
UNICEF’s representative to Guyana—Nicolas Pron—said that the organization was pleased to make the contribution towards the fight against domestic violence and reaffirmed its commitment in that direction. He said that survivors need empathy, confidentiality and confidence in the judicial process and expressed hope that the facilities would so provide.
