Domestic violence in Guyana

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This article is about Domestic violence in Guyana. For other related topics, see Outline of domestic violence.

Domestic violence in Guyana is widespread and crosses racial and socioeconomic lines. The law prohibits domestic violence, gives women the right to seek prompt protection, and allows victims to seek protection, occupation, or tenancy orders from a magistrate. Penalties for violation of protection orders include fines up to US$54 (G$10,000) and 12 months' imprisonment; however, this legislation frequently is not enforced.^[1]

The government uses laws against domestic violence with some measure of success; the problems lie with the failure of those responsible for implementation. Magistrates and magistrate court staff are often insensitive to the problem of domestic violence and to their roles in ensuring implementation of the law. In addition, not all police officers fully understand provisions of the law.^[1]

NGOs report a widespread perception that some police officers and magistrates could be bribed to make cases of domestic violence "go away." The government also does not prosecute cases in which the alleged victim or victim's family agreed to drop the case in exchange for a monetary payment out of court. NGOs assert the need for a specialized Family Court.^[1]

Domestic violence is a problem in all regions of the country. Enforcement of the domestic violence laws is especially weak in the interior, where police do not have as strong a presence and courts meet only once a quarter.^[1]

Between January and September 2006, Help and Shelter handled 414 abuse cases, including child, spousal, nonspousal, and other domestic abuse; 297 of the cases involved spousal abuse directed against women. Help and Shelter, which received private donor and some government funding, ran a free shelter for victims of domestic violence and operated a hotline to counsel victims.^[1]

NGOs run public service announcements and train police officers, teachers, nurses, agricultural workers, religious groups, and health clinics to sensitize them to domestic violence. Domestic violence training is part of the curriculum of the Police Training College. There is a Task Force on Violence against Women whose membership includes representatives from NGOs, law enforcement, the health community, and youth. The Task Force has gathered data in preparation for drafting a national policy on domestic violence.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Report on Human Rights Practices 2006: Guyana. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (March 6, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

Domestic violence in South America

Sovereign states	Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela

Dependencies and other territories	Falkland Islands French Guiana South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Domestic violence

Overview

Forms

Economic abuse	Financial abuse

Physical abuse	Acid throwing Bride burning Domestic violence and pregnancy Dowry death Honor killing Murder of pregnant women Sati

Psychological abuse	Bullying Control Embarrassment Emotional blackmail Gaslighting Intimidation Mind games Nagging Setting up to fail Silent treatment Superficial charm

Sexual abuse	Marital rape Sexual violence by intimate partners

Verbal abuse	Falsely accuse Humiliate

Combination	Abuse Battered person syndrome Birth control sabotage Bride-buying Common couple violence Cycle of abuse Elder abuse Power Reproductive coercion Stalking Traumatic bonding

Child related	Intergenerational cycle of violence Parental abuse by children Parental abuse of children Sibling abuse

Countries

Religion

Media

Documentaries	The Conspiracy of Silence Defending Our Lives Power and Control: Domestic Violence in America Silent Voices Sin by Silence

Films	American Tragedy Black and Blue Blinded Bordertown The Burning Bed Daughters Enough Looking for Angelina Once Were Warriors One Minute to Nine Provoked Sleeping with the Enemy Submission What's Love Got to Do with It

Publications	Contemporary Family Therapy Family Process Family Relations Journal of Family Issues Journal of Interpersonal Violence Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Violence Against Women

Other	Battered woman defense Domestic violence court Feminist dominance in domestic violence discussions Domestic violence in same-sex relationships Domestic violence in lesbian relationships Men's rights in domestic violence Misandry Misogyny

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Domestic violence in Guyana

See also

References