By Svetlana Marshall

Noting that too often victims of sexual violence are blamed for the abuse they endure, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud on Tuesday said it is time to change the culture of victim blaming. She said must change their mindset and society’s consciousness on the issue.

“Implicit in all of this is the deep understanding that no one asks for this, not a soul. And if we are to truly make a difference, we need to change society’s consciousness, and I say consciousness because much of what happens, and much of what is said after an incident is reported or made public, speaks to that deeper state of consciousness that we have. And I like many of the team would read those comments and wonder at people, wonder not only what are they thinking but who they are to even have the temerity to express those sentiments to even suggest for even a second that anyone asks for it,” Minister Persaud said.

Minister Persaud made the statement while delivering the keynote address at the launch of the ‘Asking For It’ Exhibition and Workshop, which is being hosted by the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU) of the Ministry of Human Services and The Imperial House Organisation to raise awareness about sexual assault.

The Human Services Minister explained that many victims remain silent about their abuse out of fear that they would be judged and blamed for the acts committed against them.

She said the Human Services Ministry continues to put systems in place to counter sexual assault, but there is still need for help.

“I formally believe that you can use the power of your voices, position, and the platform to make the necessary transformation that is so desperately needed. We cannot live in a country or exist in a state where all we do is cast blame. Who should have done, what they should have done, and when it should have been done. We should be much more than that,” Minister Persaud said.

Education and awareness in homes, schools, religious settings and in other spaces are key to tackling the problem, the Human Services Minister said.  

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of The Imperial House, Wasim Khan, said the exhibition provides a platform for Guyanese to tell their stories of sexual assault with the intention of raising awareness on the impact and the laws in place to guard against such assault.

“Today, we are gathered here not just to listen but to bear witness. We need to open our hearts and minds to the voices of those who have endured pain in silence and acknowledge the strengthen it takes to speak out. The stories you will hear are not just accounts of suffering, they are testimonies of survival, [and] resilience,” Khan said.

He said sexual violence is not just an individual tragedy, but it is also a social wound that festers in silence and fear. Khan said reports of sexual violence are often met with disbelief, and victim blaming, and it is time to change that culture.  

“Too often we hear the wrong questions: what was she wearing? Why was she out so late? Was she asking for it? The questions shift blame from the perpetrators to the victims. They silence survivors and excuse the violence. Today we push back.  We challenge these harmful narratives and affirm that the only one responsible for violence is the one who commits it,” Khan said.

He said victims must be shown empathy, and must be assured that there are laws in place to bring perpetrators to justice.

Turning his attention to the exhibits, which chronicle the stories of survivors, Khan said while all of the stories were that of women, it does not negate the fact that men are also victims.

The Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Levine Gouveia said harmful norms must challenged, and there is also the need for persons to be educated on the laws guarding against all forms of sexual abuse and violence, including sexual abuse and rape involving children.

“Prevention starts through each of us throughout our conversations, our choices, and our commitment to creating a culture of respect and safety,” Gouveia said.

The ‘Asking for It’ Exhibition will run until April 7.

The exhibition is intended to bridge the information gap and dispel harmful myths surrounding sexual violence. It coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is being observed under the theme “Building Connected Communities.”

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