Even as the country observes Child Protection Week, members of Red Thread and its network organization Grassroots Women Across Race yesterday engaged in picketing exercises in front of the Ministry of Human Services and other agencies in the city, calling for greater attention to be paid to protecting children in Guyana.
Just after 2 pm, a small group of protestors, mainly women, picketed outside the Ministry of Human Services. The group was later scheduled to protest in front of the UNICEF headquarters on Brickdam, the Ministry of Education and then in front of the Office of the President. The group has been picketing in front of the President’s Office every Thursday for the last few months. According to the protesters, they were targeting “key agencies” involved in protecting children’s rights.
According to one protestor, Red Thread member Nicola Marcus, the body was protesting against all forms of violence against children. She said that this protest was aimed at raising awareness among the public so that they would be conscious of affairs as it related to children locally.
She said that the Sexual Offences Bill needed to come out of the Parliamentary Select Committee quickly and be passed and implemented quickly. The woman commended Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand-Murli for her efforts but opined that more could be done.
The woman said that the group was also protesting against corporal punishment, “which is also a form of violence against children”.
Asked about the recent controversy over an audio recording of alleged child soliciting, Marcus said that the matter should be investigated because children need protection, and everything should be done to ensure that this is done.
Ramratie Budhan of GWAR said the activity was in the interest of the children since they were suffering continuously. She said they will continue the campaign until the desired response is received. The woman said it was time that those persons responsible for ensuring the safety of children fulfilled their responsibility.
Meanwhile, another group calling itself Concerned Guyanese staged a picketing exercise outside the American School in Prashad Nagar, targeting PNCR Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence who teaches there.
Spokesperson for the group, David Williams said Lawrence was targeted because “she has been talking about children’s rights, but she is not a good role model.”
The protestors, who wore caps pulled down in their faces, sunglasses and hid behind their placards, said they also planned to picket outside Congress Place, Freedom House and the Office of the President.