Women lawyers, unions salute women
Stabroek News
March 11, 2003
'Working in solidarity: women, human rights and peace,' the theme for this year's International Women's Day which was observed on Saturday, was of particular significance since we live in a period when "violence in our society seems to have become the norm," says the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).
According to the association, incidences of domestic and sexual violence against women and girls is at an unacceptably high level, and the GAWL is therefore calling on law enforcement officials to exercise "zero tolerance" in relation to the commission of these offences. The association recalled President Jagdeo's "commitment to action at a Domestic Violence Rally in support of programmes and initiatives to combat gender- based violence, and urged that tangible action be taken to fulfil this commitment.
The association stated that over the years, the struggle for peace and stability by women has had to be more pronounced because they along with their children are the ones that suffer the most where violence prevails. It urged all women to not only be sensitive to the issues affecting women and their livelihoods, but to sensitise others, including women, that justification of violence in any form is ultimately harmful to themselves, their families and the society as a whole. The association also urged all to not only uphold the rule of law at all times, but to demand that those in authority do the same.
GAWL urged all the political leaders to put the enactment of the strengthened fundamental rights provisions on the front burner. These provisions 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. The association further urged all women MPs to initiate and lead the way in "stressing that the enactment of the fundamental rights provisions ... be a legislative priority for 2003."
It also expressed that hope that they lead the way 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. According to GAWL, even though some measure of success was achieved during the constitutional reform process, the faltering at the level of the implementation of the provisions unanimously passed by the National Assembly was a matter of concern. It also expressed the hope that these provisions would be enacted by March 8, 2004, bringing an abatement of the fear of and suffering from violence.
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) also joined in saluting all women on the occasion of International Women's Day. According to the union, women constitute the largest portion of the labour force, with the vast majority performing lower paid jobs, numbering them among the employed poor. The union described this state of affairs as a "scourge" which it was committed to eradicating from society. Patrick Yarde, President of the GPSU paid tribute to Guyanese women, stating that, irrespective of their status and level of contribution, they were owed a debt of gratitude.
According to a release from the Clerical & Commercial Workers' Union (CCWU), the union along with the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the Amalgamated Transport & General Workers' Union (AT&GWU) got together to celebrate International Women's Day under the aegis of the Inter-national Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) with a one- day seminar on issues pertinent to women workers on Thursday.
The seminar, which addressed women's rights and aimed to motivate young women transport workers in their unions, was part of the ITF's major push for the equality, recruitment and empowerment of women worldwide, and was coordinated by Ann Anderson, the ITF's Women's Committee Representative in the Caribbean.
