Dear Editor,
The alleged rape of a sixteen year old girl by a Government Minister is an alarming and very serious allegation and we call on the Government to provide survivors of sexual violence with immediate access to justice, healthcare and support services, as well as effective and holistic reparations that are proportional to the gravity of the harm suffered.
We are very concerned about the amount of time that had elapsed since the victim came forward, and that the alleged perpetrator remained in active duty until he decided to request administrative leave. This sent a wrong message about access to justice for women who are victims of sexual assault in Guyana.
Quite often, women and girls are scared to report cases of sexual assault and we also take this opportunity to encourage all victims of sexual violence to come forward, so that the perpetrators of such horrific crimes can be brought to justice and to face the full extent of the penalty for such crimes.
Finally, as we condemn in the strongest possible terms, all actions of rape against women in Guyana, we would also like to remind our Government that there will be no meaningful progress on the Millennium
Development Goals, unless they address the structural human rights issues such as the right to be free from all forms of gender-based violence.
Sincerely,
Melita Kellman-Ashford
National Representative
LaToya Williams
Secretary