On
Sunday, September 23, 2018, the Guyana Equality Forum (GEF) held its third annual
“Peace Day Sunday Fun Day,” celebrating the United Nations’ International Day
of Peace, under the theme, “The Right to Peace: The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights at 70.” The Fun Day saw the participation of GEF member organizations
and Guyanese of all walks of life.
United
Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, delivered
opening remarks and officially declared the games open. The UN Resident
Coordinator referred to a recent report published by the Georgetown Law Human
Rights Institute this year titled “Trapped: Cycles of Violence and
Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Persons in
Guyana.” Tanaka stated “the “Trapped” report documents the heart-breaking
plight of LGBT Guyanese. The discrimination and bullying that people experience
on a daily basis because of their gender and sexual orientation are
unacceptable. The act of discrimination or bullying disrespects the dignity of
the affected persons, and violates their right to life, liberty and security.
Furthermore, it fosters hate, prejudice, intolerance and division in society.
Ignorance and indifference provide the fertile ground for hate and
discrimination to grow like a cancer. It is so important to foster the voice
and acts of conscience, reason, courage, compassion and understanding to curb
this social cancer,” the UN envoy pleaded.
UN Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka at the GEF Peace Day Sunday Fun Day
Teams
from civil society groups in Berbice dominated the games, including; United
Brick Layers, who emerged as the champion team of day, and Comforting Hearts,
who placed third at the end of the games. Both local groups are based in New
Amsterdam. Family Awareness, Consciousness Togetherness (FACT) from Corriverton
came in fourth place, while Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation
Discrimination (SASOD Guyana) placed second. The top three teams were awarded
trophies. Competitors placing first to third received individual medals for all
of the activities, which included a series of sprint and relay races, along
with novelty games such as lime and spoon, jockey race, sack race, buns-eating
competition and many others.
The
third annual GEF Fun Day provided an opportunity for diverse civil society
groups and Guyanese of all walks of life to come together through sports and
entertainment to build peace, unity and social cohesion. This signature GEF
events promotes Guyanese civil society working in unison for respect and
protection of the rights of all people, regardless of race, age, religion,
class, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression,
disability status, health status, or any other human characteristic, in keeping
with the mandate of the network.
United Bricklayers receives their trophy from GEF Manager, Joel Simpson
(right)
The
GEF is a network of civil society groups working cohesively to achieve equal
rights and justice for all Guyanese. The GEF currently has 26 registered member
organizations from across the coastal regions of the country. SASOD Guyana
serves as the secretariat of the GEF.
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