Over 3000 cases of gender-based violence filed in the past 11 months

Describing the situation as a cause for concern, the Chancellor made a call for there to be a special department set up to deal specifically with the question of gender-based violence, which continues to affect women, men, and children across the country.

Over 3000 cases of gender-based violence filed in the past 11 months

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonnette Cummings has revealed that over 3000 cases of gender-based violence have made their way to the Courts so far for this year.

Describing the situation as a cause for concern, the Chancellor made a call for there to be a special department set up to deal specifically with the question of gender-based violence, which continues to affect women, men, and children across the country.

“Despite the legislative and social measures, it has been our observation that the Courtroom and Court environment can be a daunting place and even harrowing experience for the persons who seek justice, and while juridical proceedings are essential to restore a sense of safety and confidence in bringing some normality to a person’s life, inadvertently these persons are re-victimized when they come to seek justice,” the Chancellor said during the launch of a new initiative to tackle gender-based violence.

The University of Guyana, UNICEF, and the Judiciary are partners in the new initiative.

The Chancellor said she believes there needs to be persons who are properly trained in dealing with cases of gender-based violence so as to ensure the safety of victims.

She said the judiciary will continue to work to put systems in place to assist victims of gender-based violence.

Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings

“We know about the impact of domestic violence here in Guyana of lasting emotional and psychological effects on survivors, we know that the violence now only affects the persons who are affected by it, but it also tears up the entire fabric of the family unit. Children are emotionally scarred from having to witness and even to group up in an environment where such violence is committed on a daily basis,” the Chancellor said.

The local Judiciary in collaboration with UNICEF and the University of Guyana will be conducting training sessions on gender-based violence, reporting cases of gender-based violence, and generally dealing with gender-based violence.

The Chancellor sees the training as a positive step to assist victims of gender-based violence.

“We also have daily sitting of our courts for DV (Domestic Violence) matters in all the magisterial districts, yet people who endure domestic violence sometimes have to come to court on their own without any assistance of council sometimes without the assistance of relatives and the attorneys are not there to guild them through the process but our court clerk must take on that role of a support person or of an attorney even as the administrative aspect of their jobs to guild these persons to through the process”  the Chancellor noted.

The training is free of cost and will be conducted by Phycologist, Katija Khan and supported by UNICEF.

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