In recognition of International Youth Day (IYD) 2020, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is calling on the newly installed PPP/C Government to show its sincerity for youth by acting in its first year in office to safeguard especially marginalised youths.
Against this background, SASOD wants the Irfaan Ali Administration to implement what it calls five top actions for marginalised youth—listing among them the repeal of Sections 351 to 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act which criminalises same-sex intimacy between consenting, adult men in private.
According to a press release from SASOD, it also wants sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to be prohibited grounds for discrimination in the Prevention of Discrimination Act (Section 4). An earlier PPP/C administration had refused to include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground for discrimination.
In its release SASOD posits that while the recently installed People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has included some young people in its Cabinet, its sincerity to addressing issues affecting youth will be measured by its actions.
They are calling also for the introduction of what they describe as comprehensive sexuality education in all schools “to provide young people with the tools they need to make more informed decisions to either delay their sexual debut or prevent teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, if they choose to be sexually active.”
According to the release, “comprehensive sexuality education would also inform students about diverse sexualities and genders, and reduce targeted bullying of (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+) LGBTQ+ students in Guyana’s public schools.”
The remaining two actions they want to see implemented by government are the provision of access to housing for LGBTQ+ people, underscoring especially children, who have been temporarily displaced or rendered homeless due to bias-violence and the provision of comprehensive and accessible entrepreneurial training programmes for vulnerable groups, especially LGBTQ+ youth, while making capital accessible to start up small businesses through grants and low-interest lending schemes.
The organization opined that these five actions, coupled with supportive programmes, would raise the bar for marginalized youth and advance the equality of life for all young people.
The release stated that IYD provides an opportunity to recognize the power of all youth, including those often left behind with unmet needs.
Noting that the theme for this year’s IYD is “Youth Engagement for Global Action,” SASOD said it highlights the importance of placing young people at the centre of social justice and advocacy, especially when human rights and dignity of people are threatened and restricted.
It said that for over 17 years it has been defending and promoting the rights of vulnerable groups in Guyana, including LGBTQ+ persons and marginalized youth who are subject to discrimination, violence, and persecution, for simply being who they are.
It went on to add in its release that together with local and regional partners, SASOD Guyana “fought tirelessly” to bring an end to the archaic law against cross-dressing, which was struck down by the Caribbean Court of Justice about two years ago.
According to SASOD, it has also trained hundreds of police officers on issues related to gender and sexuality, and how to interact with LGBTQ+ youth, adding that notably it continuously documents abuses and offers pro-bono legal services to young women, girls, marginalized youth, and LGBTQ+ persons, who seek justice against violators of their human rights.
“But we all must do more for, with and by them,” SASOD said while noting that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation of poverty, unemployment, and violence faced by youth further inhibits their potential to lead healthy and promising lives.
