The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) has concluded consultations on a proposed legislative amendment which provides legal protection from discrimination in relation to the right to work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Guyana.
SASOD in a release yesterday said that over the past two months, it has been consulting with a wide range of stakeholders including parliamentarians, private sector, civil society, trade unions, religious groups and international organizations on a proposed amendment to prohibit sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (SOGIE) as grounds for discrimination in the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997 (PDA). It noted that the purpose of the PDA is to eliminate discrimination in employment, training, recruitment and membership of professional bodies, and the promotion or equal remuneration in employment for work of equal value.
The release pointed out that at a meeting in his chambers with SASOD representatives on June 5 this year, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams SC requested that SASOD draft the proposed amendment and discussion paper for his and cabinet’s consideration. It said that given Williams’ request, SASOD reached out to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Guyana office for support in the form of a legislative drafting consultant to draft the proposed amendment bill and discussion paper to engage key stakeholders. UNDP agreed to support the request and recruited international legal consultant Peter Pursglove, SC, to work with SASOD.