Dear Editor,
We express our condolences to the relatives of Shameeza Mohamed. She died days after an attack from a man who was in a relationship with her daughter. We express our condolences to those who were concerned about the welfare of 13 year old Millie Miguel. Millie Miguel died by suicide. Stabroek News has reported that the Ministry of Human Services was aware of the concerns about her welfare. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has been engaging the public to encourage reporting and use of the available services. The Government has a duty to ensure that services are available to survivors of gender-based violence. We encourage citizens to share the information about the available services and to support survivors when necessary to access these services. We are concerned about some of the statements reported in the media after engagements with the Ministry.
1. There is a report in Kaieteur News on 13 Feb, 2025 “Guyana recorded 416 human trafficking victims in 2024”. In that report, there is a quote that the Ministry has set a target for femicides for 2025: “… One of the most distressing trends is the continued occurrence of femicide, with 13 cases recorded in 2024. The ministry has set a target to reduce this figure to 10 in 2025…” Another part of the news report states that “… It was also revealed a troubling 1,863 cases of domestic and gender-based violence in 2024. The ministry has set a target to reduce this figure to 1,700 in 2025…” The Government of Guyana is supposed to be setting a target of zero for the murders or abuse of women and girls. The Government is not expected to be putting arbitrary numbers for the murders or abuse of women and girls. If anything, the Government should be using the data about the experience of violence and be glad that citizens are reporting and using the services as part of the journey to healing.
We expect the Ministry and the Government to affirm a zero tolerance for gender-based violence. We also expect the Ministry to reflect on their own humanity and their empathy with those experiencing gender-based violence as they evaluate their services.
2. The Ministry did not say anything about listening to survivors or deepening engagement with communities and organisations who are working to prevent gender-based violence. The Ministry acknowledged that more work needed to be done in hinterland communities especially on child protection. We encourage the Ministry to engage with the Indigenous leadership and other Indigenous groups like the Wapichan Wiizi Women’s Movement, the Makushi Research Unit, the Indigenous Delegation against Domestic and Sexual Violence; the Village Councils and the District Councils and the National Toshaos Council. There can be collaborative and innovative solutions to ensure that the Government can honour its obligations to ensure equitable access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence and child abuse across Guyana. The solutions must include how the State works with communities to employ persons to implement the State’s obligations for child protection and social welfare.
The Spotlight funded Accountability Scorecard project in 2022/ 2023 found that there were at least 34 NGOs across regions 3, 4, 6 and 10 who offered services addressing domestic violence and other forms of gender based violence. All citizens and their organisations need to be involved in addressing sexual and gender-based violence. The Ministry can benefit from the knowledge of all the organisations who are doing the work.
3. We expect that the Government of Guyana will release the results of the investigation into the failure to protect 13 year old Millie Miguel after reports were made to the authorities.
The public has to be confident that the Childcare and Protection Agency and the Ministry of Human Services are transparent in their procedures and operations, and in the ways in which they correct any systemic flaws.
4. The Ministry of Human Services has acknowledged that there are concerns about the responses of the police force. Minister Vindhya Persaud in her Facebook address on 1 Feb, 2025 said she told her colleague Minister of Home Affairs that police must be held accountable. There has been no response from the Guyana Police Force or the Minister of Home Affairs. The Guyana Police Force however, does not seem to be accountable to anyone on the issue of gender-based violence. The Guyana Police Force has been exposed to different training programmes since 1994, but their accountability mechanisms have not improved. We call on the Government of Guyana to ensure that the Guyana Police Force is accountable to citizens. They can start about the results of their investigations of how the matters involving Bibi Fazila Ally at Vigilance Police Station were handled.
5. Many survivors have had to take to social media and other public forum to share their stories. It is important to listen and to learn. Some of the survivors have shared copies of protection orders. The Ministry of Human Services and other agencies responsible for providing services should listen as survivors and their families explain their problems. The services must be accessible to women and children with disabilities. Listening is an important part of understanding the dynamics of gender-based violence, and in understanding how justice, especially healing justice can work. Other citizens have called for better research and data gathering, for sharing of information and collaboration.
We encourage the Ministry of Human Services to also show that they are listening and learning as part of their engagement with the public about sexual and gender-based violence.
Sincerely
Red Thread Women’s Organisation
Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Guyana Presbyterian Church, Caribbean
Family Planning Affiliation
Immaculata Casimero, Coordinator, Wapichan Wiizi Women’s Movement
Josephine Whitehead
Danuta Radzik
Christine Samwaroo
Vidyaratha Kissoon
Vanda Radzik
