The voices of women should never be suppressed or silenced. Women have the right to express their opinions, to influence change and to be an integral part of decision making in any society. The empowerment of women is the empowerment of society and when there are efforts to silence women, the security of the society is at risk. The International Women’s Day theme this year is “For ALL women and girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment.”
Some believe that free speech in Guyana is constantly under threat. Free speech is a fundamental right. While it is not encouraged that free speech be abused for defamation, hate speech or the incitement of violence we must be wary about any society that seeks to silence its members when their opinions do not align with the narratives of those who hold influence and control governance. When one person is silenced, the voices of all are under threat.
