Civil
society experts are calling for more men to become involved in the response to
the escalating pandemic of gender-based violence in Guyana. The call was made
at a film screening and panel discussion hosted by the Guyana Equality Forum
(GEF), and its partners, on Monday, November 25, 2013 in observance of the
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The
film screening and panel discussion, which was held at Moray House in
Georgetown, was the kick-off awareness-raising event for the 16 days of
activism to end gender-based violence which culminates on December 10, 2013 -
Human Rights Day. Two films were
screened to stimulate the panel discussion about gender-based violence. The
first, “Audre Lorde - The Berlin Years: 1984 - 1992,”produced and donated by
Dr. Dagmar Schultz, chronicles the years the acclaimed black, feminist, lesbian
poet and activist, Audre Lorde, spent in Berlin, and her contributions to the Afro-German
women's movement and her contributions to the German discourse on racism,
xenophobia, antisemitism, classism, and homophobia within the black movement,
and the black and white women’s movement. The second film, “Voices of
Survivors” is a short documentary produced by Red Thread which shares the
heart-wrenching stories of Guyanese women who have suffered domestic violence.
Event Flyer
Both
films proved very insightful and catalyzed discussions on respecting
differences and the influence of religion on the socio-cultural norms which
lead to gender-based violence. Much of the discussion centered on how some
faith-based organisations perpetuate this violence; and conversely, the role of
religious institutions as safe spaces and places of solace for victims of
gender-based violence. Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Executive Director of
GRPA, pointed out that the church is breaking its silence and speaking up
against domestic violence.
Also
speaking on the panel, Eric Phillips, Executive Director of the African
Cultural Development Association (ACDA), lead the call for more men to be
involved in the movement to end gender-based violence but also contended that
women's leadership, especially political leadership, is very important to this
issue.
Mr.
Eric Phillips of ACDA speaking at the panel discussion
The
other panelists were Karen De Souza from Red Thread, and Daunta Radzik representing Help and Shelter. They all noted that
the level of violence within the family is alarming and that more has to be
done to discourage others from being passive onlookers whenever abuse is
occurring. Karen De Souza pointed out that
religious organisations need to be part of a comprehensive national plan
to end gender-based violence and that the message has to come from them that
“as important as the family is, it cannot be erected as more important than the
safety of the women and children of the family.” Danuta Radzik commented that
violence exists because of inequalities in relationships between men and women
and that, to some degree, it is perpetuated by fear. “The fears and prejudices
that suppress women are similar in nature to those that lead to discrimination
against homosexuals, bisexuals and transgenders,” Radzik added.
(From
left to right) Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth of GRPA and Ms. Karen De Souza
of Red Thread participating in the panel discussion
Other
recommendations from the panel and the audience include the need to address
violence against children, and expanding the Health and Family Life Education
curriculum to include topics about sexuality and violence. There was also a
call for the strengthening of institutional frameworks created to protect
victims of gender-based violence, and
for material resources to be provided to support persons to leave abusive
relationships. The discussions were moderated by SASOD's Co-Chair, Joel
Simpson.
(From
left to right) GRPA's Rev. Patricia Sherrattan-Bisnauth, SASOD's Joel Simpson
and Help and Shelter's Danuta Radzik after the panel discussion
Partnering with
the GEF to host the event were GRPA, Red Thread, Help and Shelter, The Mothers'
Union of the Anglican Church, Guyana Rainbow Foundation and the Society Against
Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD). The GEF is a network of civil
society groups working cohesively to achieve equality and realise human rights
for all Guyanese. The GEF is currently chaired by Red Thread while SASOD serves
as its administrative secretariat. The event was funded by the Astraea Lesbian
Foundation for Justice through SASOD.
Please see more photos on our website - http://sasod.org.gy/photos-idevaw-film-screening-and-panel-discussion
On
Friday, November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence Against Women, the Guyana Equality Forum (GEF) and the Society
Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) hosted the second
annual Zenita Temall Nicholson Memorial Event. The event took the form
of a Public Discussion on Gender-Based Violence in Guyana and served as
the commencement of SASOD’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign. The 16 Days of
Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize
action to end violence against women and girls around the world. In
2016, the campaign strongly emphasizes the need for sustainable
financing for efforts to end violence against women and girls towards
the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The
official theme for this year’s Campaign is: “Orange the World: Raise
Money to End Violence against Women and Girls.”
