FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23rd, 2025
Georgetown, Guyana – Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-Based Violence expresses grave concern over the harrowing ordeal of Joanna Ramoutar, a survivor of six years of extreme domestic violence at the hands of her former spouse, and the unacceptable police inaction that followed her desperate plea for protection.
Joanna’s story which details repeated physical abuse, rape, emotional torture, and threats to her life and that of her children should have resulted in immediate state intervention. Instead, it was only after her testimony went viral on social media and public pressure mounted that police acted.
A survivor should never have to turn to Facebook to beg for her safety— especially when children are involved. This is a systemic failure. The role of law enforcement is to serve and protect, not to delay action until public outcry forces their hand.
Even more disturbing is the response of the Officer of the New Amsterdam Police Station, who reportedly told Joanna she “must have enjoyed the licks” because she stayed so long. This is victim-blaming, and it is both morally reprehensible and professionally unacceptable. We call for:
- A full investigation into this officer’s conduct,
- A formal apology to the survivor,
- And mandatory sensitivity and trauma-informed training for all officers in the New Amsterdam division.
According to UN Women, 1 in 2 women in Guyana have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and the country has one of the highest femicide rates per capita in the region. Data shows it takes a woman on average seven attempts to leave an abusive relationship. That means the moment she does leave is not only courageous, it is the most dangerous—a time when she is at highest risk of being killed by her abuser.
That is why police response must be immediate and trauma-informed. Delayed action, dismissive attitudes, and systemic negligence cost lives. In too many cases in Guyana, femicide has occurred after victims sought help and were failed by the very institutions charged with protecting them.
We cannot continue to encourage victims to come forward, launch national campaigns promoting the reporting of abuse, and then provide no safe, supportive, and judgment-free systems for survivors to turn to. Gender-based violence is severely underreported, and when victims do report, they are too often met with disbelief, ridicule, or inaction. This is not justice. This is complicity.
We commend the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security for promptly deploying a specialized team from the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU) in response to Joanna Ramoutar’s case. Their swift intervention demonstrates the kind of urgent, survivor-centered response that all victims of domestic violence deserve — not only when cases go viral, but every single time someone reaches out for help. While this action is a step in the right direction, it must be matched with sustained institutional reform, ongoing training for law enforcement, and consistent accountability measures to ensure survivors are protected before public pressure forces a response.
Therefore, we call upon the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and the Office of the President to:
- Publicly reaffirm their commitment to ending gender-based violence,
- Mandate COPSQUAD training for all police officers, without exception;
- And inform the public about the role of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) as a national accountability mechanism for officers who mishandle gender-based violence cases.
Joanna Ramoutar’s bravery in speaking out must not be in vain. We owe it to her and to the countless other survivors across Guyana to ensure her story leads to real change.
Because no survivor should have to beg for help.
Media Contact:
Executive Committee
Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence
Email: info@lifeinleggings.org
Website: www.lifeinleggings.org
Phone: +1 (246) 830-9574
Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence 