Woman Know Thyself: March is Women's History Month

Dr GailAnn Guy-Cupid

Dr GailAnn Guy-Cupid is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Nevada, Reno. A native Vincentian from Stubbs, she shares the following for Women's History Month.

March is Women's History Month, alongside other celebratory movements. This article honours women and girls who are no longer with us due to sexual and domestic violence. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), like many other islands in the Caribbean and around the world, has known sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. Perpetrators are often those in power. Women have been manipulated, exploited and poorly treated, and their dependency on a system continues to fail them as it has for centuries. According to studies, violence against women and girls is the most pervasive violation of human rights in the world (Guy-Cupid, 2016).

The “Me Too” movement has brought issues of sexual violence and misconduct to the forefront, giving women across the nation and the world a voice — to say, with subtlety, thoughtfulness and judiciousness yet boldness, “me too” and “no more”. Nearly 18 million women have reported sexual assault since 1998 (metoomvmt.org). As a community, an island, a nation and members of the world, both men and women must echo the sentiment of the “Me Too” and “No More” movement. A nation divided against itself is a nation of doom. Progress is the eradication of sexual and domestic violence. SVG must speak against those who insist on perpetuating a society and structure that benefits only themselves. The data shows that men in power have always been the most pervasive at sexual misconduct. Actively and aggressively calling for changes in laws and policies — and the creation of new ones — will change legislation that currently forgives atrocities against women and girls.

According to the U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report (2017), the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Law enforcement efforts to combat human trafficking are lacking. There are no investigations into the commercial sexual exploitation of children, or of women forced into prostitution; nor is there evidence of protection for victims or efforts to prevent trafficking. The report further notes that the government needs specialised services for victims of human trafficking.

The situation is explosive. Reports suggest that SVG, with a population of approximately 110,000 (caricomstats.org), ranked third in the world for sexual violence in 2007 (Guy-Cupid, 2016, p.1). SVG can no longer turn a blind eye to a problem the world now sees. Systems must be put in place, working collectively and diligently to protect those who are most vulerable. An ad hoc committee, with a task force focused on this problem, is needed to liaise between ministries (governmental and religious), law enforcement, public health and hospital administrators, departments of education and teachers, and others — to address the specific concerns that plague SVG regarding sexual abuse and other forms of violence.

The Domestic Violence Act of 2015 deepened and broadened the definition of violence to include any controlling or abusive behaviour that harms a child, sexual abuse among them. But definitions and policies, however well pronounced, become useless when they are not enforced to the letter of the law, when there is no provision to train and educate, and no prosecution of perpetrators. How long can SVG sit and watch in this killing silence? Our silence audibly makes a statement of consent. To look away — ostrich-like, in denial — is to do nothing. The path of least resistance is no longer an option. The governing laws and treaties (such as CEDAW; the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; the aforementioned Domestic Violence Act of 2015) should not be the only resort. To adequately address sexual violence against women, the government and its ministries must develop a strategic plan that offers implementation, evaluation, and the pursuit of best practices to combat the issues.

In honour of those whose lives were cut short, agree to join in speaking out — advocating and promoting change for the voices that are no longer here, or who remain silent, suppressed and oppressed. Woman, know thyself. Stand up. Say “Me too” and “No more”.

Report, Advocate, Protect, Educate. Break the silence!

Written by Dr GailAnn Guy-Cupid — Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Social Work, University of Nevada, Reno.

References

Bunch, C. (1997). The intolerable status quo: Violence against women and girls. The Progress of Nations.

Trafficking in Persons Report 2017: Tier Placements. www.state.gov (retrieved 4 March 2018).

Demographic Profile: St. Vincent and the Grenadines. caricomstats.org (retrieved 4 March 2018).

Guy-Cupid, G. A. N. (2016). Addressing the Gap in Current Policies Regarding Gender-Based Violence in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University).

UN Women (2015). St. Vincent and the Grenadines Domestic Violence Act 2015. caribbean.unwomen.org.