Dear Editor,
I was appalled to see, in the January 20 edition of Kaieteur News, a clear photo of the 18-year-old male rape victim in the Old Year’s alleged gang rape story, taken from his hospital bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. This is an extremely serious violation of the rights of this young man, the survivor of an apparent vicious sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault are in a great deal of pain and suffering, both physical and psychological.
They need care, compassion, and justice, not to be made public spectacles. Their dignity and personhood already having been violated once, and all efforts should be made subsequently to ensure that they feel safe and respected, so they are able to regain their self-confidence and strength.
By publishing this teen’s photo, KN has shown blatant disregard for all these things, and clear unconcern for this victim’s health and well-being. Placing a thin white bar over the young man’s eyes is not enough; his identity is clear. This is despicable, sensationalist, gutter ‘journalism’, pandering to the lowest in people’s natures, and putting profits over people’s rights.
The editor of KN and/or whoever made the decision to publish this photo should be ashamed of themselves. I am calling for a public apology to this young man, along with a sincere commitment to respecting victims’ rights in all future reporting of this nature.
Also disturbing is the fact that this picture was taken within the GPHC. Patients are supposed to have privacy in times of illness and if any GPHC staff facilitated the taking of this photo, they also need to be disciplined.
We can all do better; do not be part of the problem. Compassion and justice at all times is what we all deserve.
Yours faithfully,
S Nageer