Commission lauds whistle-blowing, “Me-Too” women

Jun 08, 2018 News

In the wake of a number of persons coming out and claiming harassment, the Women and Gender Equality Commission (W&GEC) said it hoping that the National Assembly adopt key sexual harassment legislation.
According to the Commission, it has taken note, with concerns, the allegations of sexual harassment by officials of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC).
“The allegations were made public through letters by the victims and this signals a red letter day for women who have endured abuse but stayed quiet because of the dire consequences. The Commission would like to commend these women for their courage in coming forward to report these acts of sexual harassment.”
The body said it is cognizant of the problems of sexual harassment.
As a result, it initiated a number of activities that were intended to encourage victims to come forward and report these cases.
“Unfortunately, victims were afraid to come forward and even when they were bold enough to start the process they chose to walk away rather than pursue to the end.”
Recent initiatives such as the #Me Too movement, which is an international movement against sexual harassment and assault that was launched in October 2017, has created a fillip for those who were victims and who felt that they had to endure this harassment.
“The fact that dozens of women have come forward and are speaking out against powerful men signal a new paradigm in dealing with this demeaning phenomenon.”
The Commission disclosed that in keeping with its mandate to recommend and promote the implementation of legislation and the formulation of policies to enhance and protect the status of women, it has completed a review of the Gender Legislations, which recommends that Guyana needs to put in place a Sexual Harassment Legislation.
“While we note that the Discrimination Act of 1997 has sections dealing with Sexual Harassment, we feel that there needs to be a stand-alone legislation. This is one of the many proposals, which we are recommending to Parliament for implementation.”
In fulfilling its constitutional mandate to promote women’s concerns in the wider spectrum of economic and social development and address the needs of women as being different from those of men, the Commission said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Guyana to support the institutionalization of a Sexual Harassment Policy.
“We have also collaborated with the Social Sector Committee of the Parliament of Guyana to promote training and awareness among legislators in order to signal at the highest level that sexual harassment will not be condoned.”
The Commission, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, also initiated a campaign in 2015 where posters were printed and distributed to places of work and schools in an effort to remind the public about this violation.
“We also established suggestion boxes at prominent sites such as the University of Guyana, Turkeyen and Tain Campuses, the Guyana Post Office Corporation, the National Library, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and outside of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Peter Rose and Anira Streets as well as in all the Regions of Guyana.”
The two instances of the women coming forward in the pieces published by Kaieteur News recently, expose the harassment, which is taking place.
“The women of Guyana like the women in other parts of the world are no longer prepared to accept these violations sitting down. Let us all take a stand against sexual harassment and no one should be afraid to speak up against this abuse.”
In the case of GGMC, a woman is complaining of being sent nude photos by a male colleague.
She is unhappy how the matter was handled in 2015. She claimed that the harassment started because of her stance. The male employee has since denied the accusations.
In the case of NIS, a woman who went to claim benefits after her husband died, said that a male staffer invited her to lunch and to wanted a relationship with her. He did little to help her fast-track her benefits.
The Two Brothers Corporation also suffered a different kind of incident when a newly hired Human Resources Manager was allegedly inappropriate with a woman, 21, who was applying for her first job.
He invited her out after telling her she had the job.
The manager was fired after Two Brothers received a complaint from the woman.
The problem of sexual harassment at work places seemed significant, with more persons speaking out.

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