The Inter-American Human Rights Commission held a hearing today on the impact of Gender based violence on migrant, sex worker and transgender women in Guyana.
The Commission heard of multiple instances where migrant women are trafficked in the interior region and are afraid to seek redress because many of them do not have permits to be in the country legally.
Founder of the non-governmental group, Blossom Incorporated, Dr. Ayodele Dalgety-Dean, told the Commission that urgent intervention is needed to address the issues facing migrant women in Guyana.
She said their problems are often compounded by lack of assistance from authorities who are often unhelpful when they seek help.
Meanwhile, Twinkle Paul, a transgender Guyanese Human Rights Activitist, also made submissions to the panel in Washington.
Paul told the panel of the horror that many transgender women face in Guyana and explained that trans women find it hard to access basic services in the country, adding that it becomes worse when they have brushes with the law.
“I myself from 2011- 2018 was beaten by the Police for advocating for my community and order out of the local Magistrate’s Court for wearing female attire. Also, I have been a victim of transphobic hate crime on numerous occasions in Guyana I endured these unlawful acts of violence with no redress despite engaging the justice system,” Paul said.
In response, Minister of Governance, Gail Teixeria said efforts are underway to reduce violence against women, girls and sex workers here. She said over the last few years, tremendous progress has been made in that regard.
“Importantly I should emphasize that the legislative protections and the range of services that are provided is not limited to any specific group, both nationals and non-nationals are entitled to a full range of protections and essential services available. This underscores the state’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rights of all women irrsprective of their identity, nationality or background,” Ms. Teixeira noted.
Minister Teixeira also explained that in recent years, the State has taken concrete measures to address domestic violence, support vulnerable community, tackle stigma and discrimination and combat trafficking in persons.
“While these efforts have been ongoing for decades, in the past five years alone, the state through its various arms have implemented a range of legislative, policy and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening its approach to gender-based violence,” the Minister said.
The International Human Rights Commission was told that Guyana will continue with its efforts to address many of the problems being faced by vulnerable groups in the country.
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