Sunday, November 25, 2012

SASOD's Statement at the Help & Shelter's observance of IDEVAW 2012

International Day for the Elimination of 
Violence Against Women 2012
Statement at Help & Shelter Vigil 
November 25, 2012

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) stands with all women today as we observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. As the world observes this particular day many women are still suffering violence daily. Some are raped, some are subjected to physical, emotional and psychological abuse while some have the challenging task of moving beyond the abuse as survivors. In Guyana we continue to witness a pandemic of intimate-partner violence in the daily news across the local media as women continue to be abused and killed.

The prevention of gender-based violence needs to be high on the national agenda of our policy-makers, and education on this issue should be increased so that the message of zero tolerance for violence resonates more and more across the length and breadth of Guyana. Gender equality is not an ideal, but an imperative we must achieve for women to reach their full potential and live their lives independently and free from all violence.

We continue to see the psychological, emotional and economic effects of violence against women whether they are heterosexual, lesbian, bisexual or transgender women. Today, we should be encouraged to continue to vigorously campaign to raise awareness nationally and internationally to end all forms of gender-based violence, including homophobic and transphobic violence, by lobbying our leaders to prioritize actions to prosecute perpetrators, support survivors and break the cycles of violence.

To the women and girls who have lost their lives due to domestic violence, today we remember you. To the women and girls who continue to face violence in their daily lives, we hear your cry and we are here for you. To those who are survivors, we are thankful that you are alive and well today and we pray for your continued healing.  And even as we gather here today for International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, another Guyanese woman has lost her life at the hands of her male partner. Forty-year Indranie Sugrim of Cummings Lodge was killed by her husband today – five years into an abusive relationship, which relatives knew about. The killing of our women must stop! Domestic violence is everybody’s business. Indranie Sugrim could have been alive today if someone had intervened. Let’s observe a minute of silence for Indranie Sugrim and all the women we have lost to gender-based violence.

Thank you.



Richard Pitman
Advocacy and Communication Officer: SASOD - Guyana
Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)
169 Charlotte Street, 
Lacytown, Georgetown
Phone: (592) 225-7283 (O); 600-5124 (C).

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