GEORGETOWN, Guyana– While the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is amending the Domestic Violence Act of 1966 to impose stringent measures to curb gender-based violence, initiatives such as rehabilitation services for perpetrators of abuse will be rolled out in 2023.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud
Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud said the ministry is also considering renaming the Family Violence Act, which will go together with other pieces of legislation.
“This is not a piece of legislation that will stand on its own. It will be by other legislations like the Bail Act and so that we can have the punitive measures and a big component of this is rehab of the perpetrators,” she said on Wednesday.
“That is something that will come on stream next year because I have always believed that sometimes people become violent because that’s what they’re exposed to as young people . . . there is so much acceptance of it, so we will have to have these programs.”
The minister said the new law would be crafted to include best practices worldwide.
“We’re also looking at the impact that legislation had in these parts of the world; we’re looking at our domestic situation. We have merged all of this, and we’re looking at how we can be progressive, modern, and protective,” Persaud said.
She said police officers would be mandated to pursue cases of domestic abuse, even if a victim refuses to, once visible physical marks are on the victim’s body.
“We know there’s an age-old problem where people might report domestic violence, and when police go, it depends on if the persons say they want to pursue or what the police will do at the time. Once they see evidence of serious bodily harm, you have to.”
Minister Persaud added that all the other measures being put into the new legislation would address the significant gaps in the gender-based violence situation in Guyana.
Last month, she revealed that there are 40 proposed amendments to the archaic law. Modifications will include the insertion of other forms of abuse, including economic, emotional, and psychological violence, and updating penalties for breach of protection orders.
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