The text of the Association’s message is as follows:

“The Guyana Association of Women Lawyers salutes the women of Guyana, the region and the world as we mark another International Women’s Day. This year the theme ‘Working in Solidarity: Women Human Rights and Peace’ is of particular significance both in the national and international context since, unfortunately in actuality, we live in a period when violence in our society seems to have become a norm and this is unacceptable.

Violence against women in particular has not abated with incidents of domestic and sexual violence against women and girls still being at unacceptably high levels. In this regard we call on law enforcement officials to exercise zero tolerance in relation to the commission of these offences. We recall the commitment to action given by President Jagdeo at a Domestic Violence rally in support of programmes and initiatives to combat gender-based violence and urge that tangible action be taken to fulfill this commitment.

“The struggle by women for peace and stability over the years has had to be more pronounced because it is the women along with their children who suffer the most where violence pervades. Women must be sensitive to the issues that affect women and their livelihoods. Women must be sensitise others, including women, who try to justify violence in any form, that their views are ultimately harmful to themselves, their families and the society as a whole. There is absolutely no excuse for violence in any form. As citizens we must strive to uphold the rule of law at all times and demand that those in authority also uphold the rule of law.

“On this day also, GAWL would like to urge the political leaders of Guyana to put the enactment of the strengthened fundamental rights provisions on the front burner. These provisions, which guarantee women equality of treatment, non-discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, marital status or pregnancy, and a greater say in the decision-making processes, especially those of the State are of vital importance. Our women Members of Parliament make up 30 per cent of the National Assembly, closely approximately to the one-third women in Parliament that has been the initial rallying call of women internationally and into which distinct group Guyana is now a member. We therefore urge our women MPs to initiate and lead the way in stressing that the enactment of the fundamental rights provisions must be a legislative priority for 2003. We look forward also to their leadership in having the proposed human rights constitutional amendments enacted which allow for the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to be part of our Constitution and in ensuring the speedy establishment of the Women and Gender Equality Commission. GAWL is indeed concerned that having appeared to achieve some measure of success during the constitutional reform process, we have faltered at implementing these provisions, which were unanimously passed by the National Assembly.

“The Association sincerely hopes that come March 8, 2004, these provisions would have been enacted, that the continued fear of and suffering from violence would have abated.