The Stockholm Statement

We, the team of Rainbow Leaders, a network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) human rights defenders, who gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, from October 14 to November 1, 2013, agree upon the following statement:

Claiming our space within the global social movements;

Recognising our leadership in the LGBTI movement in bringing change in our groups, communities, societies, countries and regions;

Acknowledging we are living in a world, where 76 countries criminalise consensual same-sex relations and non-conforming gender expressions;

Recognizing the true solidarity among our groups and the need for action whenever there is call;

Recognizing the need for positive strives for days of celebration, celebrating a global day for LGBTI activism;

Being conscious that violence and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity are daily realities for many individuals all around the world;

Welcoming the national, regional and global policy and legal frameworks that enhance our struggle for equality;

Affirming that we are strengthened by our common vision that our sexual orientations and gender identities are important human characteristics of our self-identification and should not be cause for discrimination; and

Recognizing the achievements of the civil society movement to decrease the levels of discrimination, and the role of some governments in supporting this process;

We make the following the following declarations:

We seek to continue the international cooperation that supports the work of human rights defenders in their local contexts in respect to their own needs and voices.

We encourage other human rights defenders to join and unite with LGBTI activitists in our common struggles.

We demand radical change in the heteronormative patriarchal systems where the rights of women, sexual and gender minorities are not respected.

We are not just demanding change in policies and legislations that can protect human rights of LGBTI persons but also a continuous education and sensitizing process to achieve just, inclusive and equitable societies.

We call upon the decision-makers of our countries to provide legislation that protect every citizen regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, and that this legal framework is effectively implemented.

We demand the decision-makers of our countries to stop the tyranny of the majority against all minorities.

We Rainbow Leaders commit ourselves as agents of change who continue to challenge cultural normativity with pride, dignity and respect.

November 1, 2013

Stockholm, Sweden

Bishkek Feminist Collective SQ, Kyrgyz Indigo and Labrys (Kyrgyzstan)

Freedom and Roam (Uganda)

Friends of RAINKA (Zambia)

Let Good Be Told In Us (NYARWEK) Coalition (Kenya)

Gays And Lesbians of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)

Sappho for Equality (India)

Iranti-Org (South Africa)

Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (Guyana)

Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana

Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (Saint Lucia)

Trans Bantu (Zambia)

Coalition of African Lesbians (South Africa)

Rainbow Women (Kenya)

PaKasipiti (Zimbabwe)

Gayten-LGBT, Center for Promotion of LGBTIQ Human Rights (Serbia)

Romski Zenski Centar Romnjako Ilo (Serbia)

Adhikaar (India)

                                         Rainbow Leaders      (c) Jabu Pereira, Iranti-Org

                                          

Abolish Corporal Punishment in Guyana – SASOD tells parliamentary committee on Universal Children's Day

On Universal Children’s Day, Wednesday, November 20, 2013, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) made oral presentations and responded to questions based on its February 2013 written submission to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Guyana’s Commitment to the United Nations Human Rights Council to abolish corporal punishment.

At the meeting with the Committee, SASOD was represented by member Collis Augustine, Advocacy and Communications Officer Schemel Patrick and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Zenita Nicholson. The meeting discussed the necessity to strengthen dialogue with civil society partners, other stakeholders and more conservative groups on the issue of corporal punishment in schools. Discussions were also centered on the need for these groups and individuals working to create change to continue to advocate and to demonstrate why it’s imperative for the government to comply with United Nations children’s rights standards on corporal punishment. 

In recent times, SASOD has been increasingly focused on children’s issues in Guyana. In December 2012, SASOD launched its Child Protection Policy which echoed its commitment to ensuring that the rights of Guyana’s children are respected and protected, as well as to provide a framework to assist all representatives in carrying out their duties to safeguard children’s welfare and promote awareness of child protection issues. 

In January 2013, SASOD along with three other civil society groups - Red Thread, Family Action Consciousness Togetherness (FACT) and Artistes In Direct Support (A.I.D.S.) - made a joint submission to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child that focused on “Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana” as the state's record was under review. In its concluding observations, the UN Committee recommended that Guyana address discrimination against children based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.  

Then in May 2013, SASOD led the Guyana Equality Forum (GEF) in its observance of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) under the theme “Children are Our Future” to keep a local spotlight on the Special Select Committee of the National Assembly that is currently holding consultations on the abolition of corporal punishment in schools, and the need to create a safe and enabling environment for children, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

And just last month, on October 28, 2013, SASOD along with three other civil society groups -Red Thread, Family Action Consciousness Togetherness (FACT) and Artistes In Direct Support (A.I.D.S.) – made submissions before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on "Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana." One of the issues highlighted was corporal punishment. The Ministry of Education’s guidelines on maintaining order speak to the regulated and documented use of corporal punishment in schools “as a last resort.” However, the use of corporal punishment in schools is commonplace, to the extent that teachers appear not to recognize when they are using this form of abuse on the children in their care. Additionally, the very fact of allowing “regulated and documented use of corporal punishment” gives teachers permission to use it. Children have suffered needless injuries because of teachers’ violence. Past newspaper reports of dislocated shoulders, fractures and marks left on children have only served to intensify the chorus that children are out of control and that teachers need protection. To put it simply, beating children in Guyana's schools is an abuse of the power of adults over children. 

SASOD joins other rights groups in the call to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in all settings, particularly in the domestic and school contexts; strengthen and expand awareness-raising and education programmes and campaigns, in order to promote positive and alternative forms of discipline and respect for children’s rights, with the involvement of children, while raising awareness about the adverse consequences of corporal punishment in Guyana.

As we observe Universal Children’s Day, SASOD is reiterates its position to abolish corporal punishment in schools and continues to work with other civil society groups advocating for an end to all forms of violence, abuse and discrimination against children. 

On Saturday, November 23, 2013, SASOD, as part of the Guyana Equality Forum (GEF), is hosting a mural painting exercise at the Georgetown Seawall, between Vlissengen Road and Pere Street commencing at 15:00 hrs. Also collaborating with the GEF are the interim Guyana National Youth Council, Youth Challenge Guyana, Youths For Guyana and the Guyana Girl Guides Association. Ms. Ann Greene, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, and Ms. Marianne Flach, UNICEF Representative to Guyana, are expected to make remarks. The GEF is observing Universal Children’s Day under the theme “Speak out against Violence, Abuse and Discrimination of Children.” We expect attendance from a wide cross-section of civil society, governmental and international partners. The general public and the media are invited to attend and participate in this event.  

Children at the Mural Painting with Director for Childcare and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Greene; UNICEF Representative, Ms. Marianna Flach; SASOD contractors and volunteers. 

 Photo Credit: Guyana Chronicle

Please see more photos on our website - http://sasod.org.gy/photos-universal-childrens-day-mural-painting 

Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity Conference

 

This saw 35 women from 14 countries coming together to share, learn and build lifelong connections and friendships. Partnerships may have also come out of this; I know love did.This strengthening activity was made possible because of effective coordination of the organizers: St. Lucian human rights organisation United and Strong Inc (U&S) and from Curacao, Fundashon Orguyo Korsou/Curacao Pride Foundation (FOKO). The theme was: “Strengthening the invisible woman and empowering her to leadership.” And that’s just what it did. The aim was to help build the advocacy strengths and help us to understand and deal with LBT women’s issues. For us to return home and advocate from a point of understanding of our rights, our strengths, our weaknesses and with the knowledge that there are others we can call on for help if we need it.

Some of us in a group                                             © photo courtesy of Amina Doherty

The CWSDC was funded by a combination of partners. The Caribbean Forum for the Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS), Arcus Foundation, ARC International, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), Council for Global Equality, the Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice and Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights. Importantly to point out also is, the conference was tragically planned at the time of Curacao’s first week of LGBT pride celebrations to give support, and also a few activities were incorporated with the conference. One such activity was the award ceremony in recognision of persons who contributed to the LGBT movement over the years. Kenita Placide of United & Strong Inc, Mario Kleinmodig and Dudley Ferdinandus of FOKO and Faye Ferdinandus of CariFLAGS along with many others were recognised. Many of us celebrated in the pride events; for some of us, it was our first pride celebration.

Some of the women celebrating pride                            

Our facilitators were mostly women, women with gusts of inspiring strengths, which was very refreshing. They covered Self-Defense (our first activity in the mornings), Proposal Writing, Leadership, Violence in Same-Sex Relationships and recognising it, and much more. Many of our days were packed with group discussions, finding new ways to strengthen our capacities. For some, the night outs after each day’s session worked as an outlet to forge new friendships, and re-energize to return to the next day’s session with vigor. I also had the privilege of video recording the sessions of CWSDC. It all was a very edifying experience for me. Ulelli Verbeke :)

The humble Kenita Placide and I                         © photo courtesy of Maria Fontenelle

Conference photos

'Human Rights Need Your Leadership' – IACHR tells Guyana Government

Joint Media Release from Red Thread, FACT, A.I.D.S. and SASOD

Four Guyanese civil society organisations - Red Thread, Family Action Consciousness Togetherness (FACT), Artistes In Direct Support (A.I.D.S.) and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) - working on intersectional rights issues affecting child across the country, made submissions at a hearing with the state of Guyana before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on "Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana" during its 149th Ordinary Period of Sessions in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 28, 2013.  

The hearing focused on three specific issues currently affecting children in Guyana: (1) corporal punishment; (2) discrimination and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and (3) comprehensive sexuality education in schools.

Karen De Souza, National Coordinator of Red Thread, reported that the principal narrative on corporal punishment is that children are out of control and teachers need the whip to regain and/or maintain control of and exercise authority over them. The Ministry of Education’s guidelines on maintaining order speak to the regulated and documented use of corporal punishment in schools “as a last resort.” However, the use of corporal punishment in schools is commonplace, to the extent that teachers appear not to recognize when they are using this form of abuse on the children in their care. Additionally, the very fact of allowing “regulated and documented use of corporal punishment” gives teachers permission to use it.

Children have suffered needless injuries because of teachers’ violence. Past newspaper reports of dislocated shoulders, fractures and marks left on children have only served to intensify the chorus that children are out of control and that teachers need protection. Eight-year old Guyanese Daria Nicholson, who presented at the hearing, described her feelings of shame, anger and sadness having received several lashes from her class teacher because she forgot her exercise book at home. She was never asked by her teacher to provide an explanation.

Daria Nicholson (centre) presenting at the hearing, flanked by Karen De Souza (left) of Red Thread and her mother Zenita Nicholson (right) of SASOD

For the second time, in 2012, the National Assembly appointed a select committee to receive submissions on the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools, but the committee has not yet reported to the National Assembly. The civil society delegation reported that the government seems to be pandering to the misguided view that discipline is equivalent to punishment, rather than honouring the state’s obligation to put an end to all forms of violence against children. “Corporal punishment must be abolished,” De Souza reiterated at Monday's IACHR hearing.

Annette Jaundoo, Executive Director of FACT pointed out that, “the state has no effective systems in place to deal with these kinds of issues where children are violently abused because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, whether real or perceived, by their families, teachers, caregivers or persons who are responsible for their wellbeing and safety.” There is little or no support in schools for these children. Students face discrimination and are targeted not only by their peers but also sometimes by teachers, whose personal views may be homophobic.

Further, information about health and sexuality is one of the only critical tools that young people have to protect themselves from disease, and to make informed decisions about well-being and sexuality. Desiree Edghill, Executive Director of A.I.D.S., shared that NGOs working along with the teachers to implement the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme in schools found that the teachers were not only behind in the roll-out of the HFLE manual, but they were also selecting certain exercises to conduct, rather than following the format of the manual and how they were trained to execute them. “It is important to follow the format, because the exercises build on and flow into each other,” Edgehill told the IACHR hearing on Monday. She also reported that children were more comfortable discussing sexuality and gender issues and issues of abuse with NGO staffers, rather than their teachers.

(From left to right) Desiree Edgehill (A.I.D.S.) presents with Annette Jaundoo (FACT), Karen De Souza (Red Thread), Daria Nicholson and Zenita Nicholson (SASOD)

The Honourable Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Jennifer Webster, M.P. responded on behalf of the Government of Guyana at the IACHR hearing. Unfortunately, the Government misunderstood the nature of the hearing and spent the better part of the allotted time challenging procedural matters related to individual petitions, which this hearing was not. Commissioner Dinah Shelton, who is the Rapporteur for Guyana, reiterated the IACHR President's response to Minister Webster that the hearing was not an individual petition, but a general hearing, as no individual name or case was the basis for requesting the hearing.

(From left to right) Civil society presenters, IACHR Comissioners (centre table) and Hon. Minister Jennifer Webster, M.P. and Guyana's Ambassador to the OAS, H.E. Bayney Karran

The delegation proposed several recommendations to the Government of Guyana and the IACHR, including that the Sex and Sexuality theme of the HFLE curriculum is reviewed and objective information on sexual orientation and gender identity aimed at preventing violence, abuse and discrimination in schools is incorporated, as well as providing training at Cyril Potter Teachers Training College curriculum on understanding of sexuality and gender issues affecting children in Guyana's schools.

Concluding her responses to the Minister's report that the National Assembly has convened a special select committee to hold public consultations on these issues, which are still ongoing, Commissioner Shelton emphatically stated that human rights shouldn't be put to a vote, and that these issues need government leadership, even in advance of public opinion, including positive measures to prevent violence.

IACHR Commissioners at the Guyana Hearing (left to right): Rosa Maria Ortiz, rapporteur with responsibility for children's rights, Jose De Jesus Orozco Henriquez, President of IACHR, and Dinah Shelton, rapporteur responsible for Guyana

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organisation of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote and protect human rights in the American hemisphere and act as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. It is composed of seven independent members who are elected in their individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly, serve in their personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin. Created in 1959, the Commission has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

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Video Recording of the Hearing on Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana on the IACHR YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/vFTa6ZL1UBk

'Human Rights Need Your Leadership' – IACHR tells Guyana Government

Joint Media Release from Red Thread, FACT, A.I.D.S. and SASOD

Four Guyanese civil society organisations - Red Thread, Family Action Consciousness Togetherness (FACT), Artistes In Direct Support (A.I.D.S.) and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) - working on intersectional rights issues affecting child across the country, made submissions at a hearing with the state of Guyana before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on "Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana" during its 149th Ordinary Period of Sessions in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 28, 2013.  

The hearing focused on three specific issues currently affecting children in Guyana: (1) corporal punishment; (2) discrimination and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and (3) comprehensive sexuality education in schools.

Karen De Souza, National Coordinator of Red Thread, reported that the principal narrative on corporal punishment is that children are out of control and teachers need the whip to regain and/or maintain control of and exercise authority over them. The Ministry of Education’s guidelines on maintaining order speak to the regulated and documented use of corporal punishment in schools “as a last resort.” However, the use of corporal punishment in schools is commonplace, to the extent that teachers appear not to recognize when they are using this form of abuse on the children in their care. Additionally, the very fact of allowing “regulated and documented use of corporal punishment” gives teachers permission to use it.

Children have suffered needless injuries because of teachers’ violence. Past newspaper reports of dislocated shoulders, fractures and marks left on children have only served to intensify the chorus that children are out of control and that teachers need protection. Eight-year old Guyanese Daria Nicholson, who presented at the hearing, described her feelings of shame, anger and sadness having received several lashes from her class teacher because she forgot her exercise book at home. She was never asked by her teacher to provide an explanation.

Daria Nicholson (centre) presenting at the hearing, flanked by Karen De Souza (left) of Red Thread and her mother Zenita Nicholson (right) of SASOD

For the second time, in 2012, the National Assembly appointed a select committee to receive submissions on the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools, but the committee has not yet reported to the National Assembly. The civil society delegation reported that the government seems to be pandering to the misguided view that discipline is equivalent to punishment, rather than honouring the state’s obligation to put an end to all forms of violence against children. “Corporal punishment must be abolished,” De Souza reiterated at Monday's IACHR hearing.

Annette Jaundoo, Executive Director of FACT pointed out that, “the state has no effective systems in place to deal with these kinds of issues where children are violently abused because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, whether real or perceived, by their families, teachers, caregivers or persons who are responsible for their wellbeing and safety.” There is little or no support in schools for these children. Students face discrimination and are targeted not only by their peers but also sometimes by teachers, whose personal views may be homophobic.

Further, information about health and sexuality is one of the only critical tools that young people have to protect themselves from disease, and to make informed decisions about well-being and sexuality. Desiree Edghill, Executive Director of A.I.D.S., shared that NGOs working along with the teachers to implement the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme in schools found that the teachers were not only behind in the roll-out of the HFLE manual, but they were also selecting certain exercises to conduct, rather than following the format of the manual and how they were trained to execute them. “It is important to follow the format, because the exercises build on and flow into each other,” Edgehill told the IACHR hearing on Monday. She also reported that children were more comfortable discussing sexuality and gender issues and issues of abuse with NGO staffers, rather than their teachers.

(From left to right) Desiree Edgehill (A.I.D.S.) presents with Annette Jaundoo (FACT), Karen De Souza (Red Thread), Daria Nicholson and Zenita Nicholson (SASOD)

The Honourable Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Jennifer Webster, M.P. responded on behalf of the Government of Guyana at the IACHR hearing. Unfortunately, the Government misunderstood the nature of the hearing and spent the better part of the allotted time challenging procedural matters related to individual petitions, which this hearing was not. Commissioner Dinah Shelton, who is the Rapporteur for Guyana, reiterated the IACHR President's response to Minister Webster that the hearing was not an individual petition, but a general hearing, as no individual name or case was the basis for requesting the hearing.

(From left to right) Civil society presenters, IACHR Comissioners (centre table) and Hon. Minister Jennifer Webster, M.P. and Guyana's Ambassador to the OAS, H.E. Bayney Karran

The delegation proposed several recommendations to the Government of Guyana and the IACHR, including that the Sex and Sexuality theme of the HFLE curriculum is reviewed and objective information on sexual orientation and gender identity aimed at preventing violence, abuse and discrimination in schools is incorporated, as well as providing training at Cyril Potter Teachers Training College curriculum on understanding of sexuality and gender issues affecting children in Guyana's schools.

Concluding her responses to the Minister's report that the National Assembly has convened a special select committee to hold public consultations on these issues, which are still ongoing, Commissioner Shelton emphatically stated that human rights shouldn't be put to a vote, and that these issues need government leadership, even in advance of public opinion, including positive measures to prevent violence.

IACHR Commissioners at the Guyana Hearing (left to right): Rosa Maria Ortiz, rapporteur with responsibility for children's rights, Jose De Jesus Orozco Henriquez, President of IACHR, and Dinah Shelton, rapporteur responsible for Guyana

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organisation of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote and protect human rights in the American hemisphere and act as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. It is composed of seven independent members who are elected in their individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly, serve in their personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin. Created in 1959, the Commission has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

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Video Recording of the Hearing on Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana on the IACHR YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/vFTa6ZL1UBk

'Human Rights Need Your Leadership' – IACHR tells Guyana Government

Joint Media Release from Red Thread, FACT, A.I.D.S. and SASOD

Four Guyanese civil society organisations - Red Thread, Family Action Consciousness Togetherness (FACT), Artistes In Direct Support (A.I.D.S.) and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) - working on intersectional rights issues affecting child across the country, made submissions at a hearing with the state of Guyana before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on "Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana" during its 149th Ordinary Period of Sessions in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 28, 2013.  

The hearing focused on three specific issues currently affecting children in Guyana: (1) corporal punishment; (2) discrimination and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and (3) comprehensive sexuality education in schools.

Karen De Souza, National Coordinator of Red Thread, reported that the principal narrative on corporal punishment is that children are out of control and teachers need the whip to regain and/or maintain control of and exercise authority over them. The Ministry of Education’s guidelines on maintaining order speak to the regulated and documented use of corporal punishment in schools “as a last resort.” However, the use of corporal punishment in schools is commonplace, to the extent that teachers appear not to recognize when they are using this form of abuse on the children in their care. Additionally, the very fact of allowing “regulated and documented use of corporal punishment” gives teachers permission to use it.

Children have suffered needless injuries because of teachers’ violence. Past newspaper reports of dislocated shoulders, fractures and marks left on children have only served to intensify the chorus that children are out of control and that teachers need protection. Eight-year old Guyanese Daria Nicholson, who presented at the hearing, described her feelings of shame, anger and sadness having received several lashes from her class teacher because she forgot her exercise book at home. She was never asked by her teacher to provide an explanation.

Daria Nicholson (centre) presenting at the hearing, flanked by Karen De Souza (left) of Red Thread and her mother Zenita Nicholson (right) of SASOD

For the second time, in 2012, the National Assembly appointed a select committee to receive submissions on the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools, but the committee has not yet reported to the National Assembly. The civil society delegation reported that the government seems to be pandering to the misguided view that discipline is equivalent to punishment, rather than honouring the state’s obligation to put an end to all forms of violence against children. “Corporal punishment must be abolished,” De Souza reiterated at Monday's IACHR hearing.

Annette Jaundoo, Executive Director of FACT pointed out that, “the state has no effective systems in place to deal with these kinds of issues where children are violently abused because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, whether real or perceived, by their families, teachers, caregivers or persons who are responsible for their wellbeing and safety.” There is little or no support in schools for these children. Students face discrimination and are targeted not only by their peers but also sometimes by teachers, whose personal views may be homophobic.

Further, information about health and sexuality is one of the only critical tools that young people have to protect themselves from disease, and to make informed decisions about well-being and sexuality. Desiree Edghill, Executive Director of A.I.D.S., shared that NGOs working along with the teachers to implement the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme in schools found that the teachers were not only behind in the roll-out of the HFLE manual, but they were also selecting certain exercises to conduct, rather than following the format of the manual and how they were trained to execute them. “It is important to follow the format, because the exercises build on and flow into each other,” Edgehill told the IACHR hearing on Monday. She also reported that children were more comfortable discussing sexuality and gender issues and issues of abuse with NGO staffers, rather than their teachers.

(From left to right) Desiree Edgehill (A.I.D.S.) presents with Annette Jaundoo (FACT), Karen De Souza (Red Thread), Daria Nicholson and Zenita Nicholson (SASOD)

The Honourable Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Jennifer Webster, M.P. responded on behalf of the Government of Guyana at the IACHR hearing. Unfortunately, the Government misunderstood the nature of the hearing and spent the better part of the allotted time challenging procedural matters related to individual petitions, which this hearing was not. Commissioner Dinah Shelton, who is the Rapporteur for Guyana, reiterated the IACHR President's response to Minister Webster that the hearing was not an individual petition, but a general hearing, as no individual name or case was the basis for requesting the hearing.

(From left to right) Civil society presenters, IACHR Comissioners (centre table) and Hon. Minister Jennifer Webster, M.P. and Guyana's Ambassador to the OAS, H.E. Bayney Karran

The delegation proposed several recommendations to the Government of Guyana and the IACHR, including that the Sex and Sexuality theme of the HFLE curriculum is reviewed and objective information on sexual orientation and gender identity aimed at preventing violence, abuse and discrimination in schools is incorporated, as well as providing training at Cyril Potter Teachers Training College curriculum on understanding of sexuality and gender issues affecting children in Guyana's schools.

Concluding her responses to the Minister's report that the National Assembly has convened a special select committee to hold public consultations on these issues, which are still ongoing, Commissioner Shelton emphatically stated that human rights shouldn't be put to a vote, and that these issues need government leadership, even in advance of public opinion, including positive measures to prevent violence.

IACHR Commissioners at the Guyana Hearing (left to right): Rosa Maria Ortiz, rapporteur with responsibility for children's rights, Jose De Jesus Orozco Henriquez, President of IACHR, and Dinah Shelton, rapporteur responsible for Guyana

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organisation of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote and protect human rights in the American hemisphere and act as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. It is composed of seven independent members who are elected in their individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly, serve in their personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin. Created in 1959, the Commission has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

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Video Recording of the Hearing on Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana on the IACHR YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/vFTa6ZL1UBk