Dear Editor

Many men and women in Guyana probably think like Commander Hicken does, that young women are to be blamed for rape because they do not dress ‘morally’. Victim-blaming for rape is part of the culture and many persons, especially supposedly religious people, do the victim-blaming in outright terms, or like to talk a lot about ‘modest’ attire even if they acknowledge as Mr Hicken does, that rape is a crime.

It is sickening that Mr Hicken is not aware that rape has nothing to do with what the victim is wearing, or where they were walking or who they decided to fall in love with or where they decided to go or who their relatives decided to bring into their homes.

Mr Hicken must go if he believes that young women (including girls in school uniform, young women in work clothes, nurse’s uniform, hijab, their home clothes at home) are to be blamed for rape. Mr Hicken must go if he does not believe and cannot communicate clearly to his officers and to the public that the responsibility for rape lies with rapists.   Mr Hicken must go if he seems not to believe in the spirit of the new Sexual Offences Act.

Mr Hicken must go if he does not realise that many rape survivors have walked away from seeking justice because the police and the justice system blamed them.

Those who believe that survivors are to be blamed should not be investigating rape. There was a recommendation made to the Disciplined Services Commission to have specialized units staffed by persons who had the appropriate attitudes, skills and knowledge to deal with matters relating to sexual violence and domestic violence.

The talk of police reform has clearly fallen on deaf ears if senior officers believe that children are responsible for the rape brought on them because of the way they dress. Minister Rohee must go too if he does not hold himself, or Mr Hicken accountable for ensuring that the Guyana Police Force will not be judging survivors of rape as they seek justice.

Yours faithfully,
Vidyaratha Kissoon

Dear Editor,

The remarks attributed to Police Commander ‘A’ Division, Mr Hicken, demonstrate once again the urgent need for the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 2010. For Mr Hicken to suggest that how women dress may be a trigger for rape indicates a serious failure in the training which has purportedly been done with the police. The inclination to blame the victim is a weak and lazy response to a serious crime, and it is unacceptable as a response of the police – moreso a senior policeman – tasked with investigating these offences. We must have a police force that understands the underpinning of all forms of gender-based violence, that understands that rape is not a crime of passion or temptation, but of humiliation and hate. The police must be trained to really appreciate their role as protectors of the vulnerable. They cannot act on this responsibility if they are limited by the belief that the victim of a crime such as rape must somehow have contributed to that victimization.

Red Thread acknowledges the swift and appropriate response of APNU to Mr Hicken’s remarks and urges that they maintain this focus on the so-called ‘soft’ issue of gender-based violence plaguing the society. The protection of women and the vulnerable in the society should not be relegated to the bottom of the list of issues needing urgent action. We further urge those individuals who habitually question why group A or group B has not commented on an issue they identify as major to join the call for more and better training and supervision of the Guyana Police Force, including not just about legal specifics, but about the attitudes and behaviour expected of officers.

Mr Hicken must withdraw his remarks, and the Commissioner of Police must urgently organize the ongoing training of all ranks to ensure that the enforcers of the law are not hampered by views such as those expressed by the Commander.

Yours faithfully,
Wintress White 
Halima Khan
for Red Thread