Guyana records in excess of 300 sexual assault cases monthly, according to the Manager of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Cona Husbands.
Dr. Husbands spoke at the “Asking for It” exhibition on Tuesday; the event was conceptualised to raise awareness about sexual abuse.
“In Guyana, we do have a significant number of sexual abuse. Early up in the year there was a little peak and now it is kind of going back down.
“Basically, on average, we have on a monthly basis, an excess of 300 cases of sexual assault, every year,” Dr. Husbands stated.
Manager of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Cona Husbands
Providing a further breakdown of these cases, Dr. Husbands revealed that more than 90 per cent of these cases involve women, with women being the primary victims and the ones speaking out.
However, there are also cases involving men, though they account for less than 10 per cent.
“We still have some men who are speaking out and being abused, that would be less than 10 per cent.”
Alarmingly though, over 70 per cent of the cases involve children under the age of 18.
Despite the high number of reported assaults, less than 10 percent of the cases result in convictions, and more than 50 per cent of the cases make it to court.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud
Meanwhile, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, emphasised the importance of recognising that while statistics show women disproportionately experience violence, it is critical to acknowledge that boys and men also suffer violence.
“We live in a culture, a Guyanese culture or a Caribbean culture, where men are told it is not okay to be anything less than strong. Boys are told if that [sexual abuse] happens to you, you’re probably making it up, or something is wrong with you,” Minister Persaud explained.
Dr. Persaud underscored that addressing violence must be seen as a collective mission for all people.
“…when we embark on this mission it must not be seen as a women and girl’s thing but as a people thing, where every person feels confident in a system that will provide them the safety, security that they need, the help, the support that are necessities to them.”
The ministry is currently developing what is referred to as the Guyana Model to Counter Violence and Abuse. A key component of this initiative is the Brave Circle – a prevention strategy focused on intervention and rehabilitation for at-risk individuals with aims to curb the cycle of violence.
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