GHRA CALLS FOR MORE SUSTAINED MEASURES TO STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) commends the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the decisiveness with which they responded to the rape and sexual violence against a 20-year old Amerindian young woman in the Raghoo Bar in Soesdyke.We strongly encourage the other Government Agencies with responsibilities for law, women and Amerindian matters to sustain a similarly energetic response.

Indigenous females are, for cultural reasons, particularly vulnerable to being duped into abusive situations in coastal Guyana, but their vulnerability is not unique. Sexual violence against women and girl children is endemic in Guyana requiring them to be constantly vigilant of their surroundings and whereabouts, which mini-bus to use, street to walk on, clothes that might send a wrong message.

Public reactions of horror at incidents such as that which occurred in Soesdyke contrast sharply with the growing acceptance of sexually objectifying  women routinely projected in the proliferation of strip clubs, trafficking of girls for prostitution and lewd posts on social media. The one seems never to be connected with the other.

Too often, immediate passionate indignation from Ministers, the police, politicians and religious leaders eventually simmers down into more routine, evasive action. The most shocking example of such behaviour was the mere removal from office of a Minister of a Government Minister widely considered by public opinion to be s responsible for rape of a young indigenous woman. Alarmingly, his name recently appeared on the new electoral list of candidates of the ruling party.  This kind of evasion is no longer acceptable.

The Guyana Human Rights Association  is calling for this heinous incident  to be treated, not as an isolated vicious attack, but as  the latest in a string of sexual crimes against women. The GHRA fully  supports cancelling the licence and closure of the Raghoo Bar.

Executive Committee

Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA)