The Guyanese Government is in the final stages of drafting a new Domestic Violence Legislation aimed at addressing the societal ill that has long plagued families in the country. The legislation is expected to cater to newer forms of violence and offer further protection and response for victims.
According to Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, the new legislation will be tabled in the National Assembly this year. The proposed legislation has undergone consultations with several key agencies, including the Guyana Bar Association and the Women Lawyers’ Association.
The current ‘Domestic Violence Act’ of 1996 will be overhauled with some 40 proposed amendments, which the government hopes will address the archaic issue of domestic violence.
Unlike the current legislation, which has a more civil component to it, the new legislation will include both civil and penal components. Proposed amendments include a more comprehensive definition of economic, emotional, and psychological violence and updated penalties for breach of protection orders. The legislation will also include batterer intervention programmes and counselling as remedies under the law.
The government is also placing a heavy focus on identifying mechanisms to tackle domestic violence as a key element in modernizing legislation and policies, ultimately strengthening systems
