Sexual harassment legislation must be drafted and enacted as soon as possible
The recent report of sexual harassment allegations brought against the current head of SOCU, Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh, is alarming. We understand that Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh is denying these allegations, referring to them as ‘trumped up’.
Sexual harassment, a form of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), is rampant in Guyana. Since 2017, the Women & Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) has called for a sexual harassment policy to be instituted in all workplaces and has recommended the introduction of separate sexual harassment legislation to protect victims and hold accountable perpetrators. The current legislative provisions are tucked away in the Prevention of Discrimination Act and are far too limited.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted and unwelcome sexual advances, unwanted requests and pressure for sexual favours, unwanted, deliberately sexual, physical harassment such as touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching, unwanted letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature, unwanted verbal comments or looks or gestures that are sexual in nature. Sexual harassment can also include actual or attempted rape or sexual assault and can result in murder. It can also involve threats, insults, intimidation, exploitation, lack of promotion, demotion, firing and retaliation by perpetrators, most often senior employees towards junior employees.
The effects of sexual harassment can be far reaching and include anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, decreased morale, fear and suicide.
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which Guyana signed and ratified since 1981, directs State Parties to take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, of which sexual harassment is one. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2019 passed Convention 190, which addressed gender-based violence and specifically harassment in the work environment. Guyana has not yet signed/ratified this convention. We call on the Government to more vigorously implement the CEDAW and to expeditiously sign/ratify ILO 190.
Strong legislation, firm policies and effective implementation provide better protection and justice for victims of sexual harassment. Presently, few cases are reported and many more never see the light of day. Sexual harassment offenders need to be prosecuted and their reprehensible behaviour stopped.
The many recent reports of sexual misconduct including rape and sexual exploitation committed by serving members of security forces and this most recent allegation against a senior police officer are cause for great concern.
We call for an independent investigation to be carried out immediately into the allegations of sexual harassment brought against Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh.
We also call for a thorough and far-reaching review of policies and practices which are a contributing factor towards SGBV offences among Guyana’s security forces.
We further call for sexual harassment legislation to be drafted and
enacted as soon as possible and for policies against sexual harassment to be swiftly introduced into all public and private sector workplaces, agencies, labour unions, religious and faith-based organisations, schools and educational institutions, NGOs and CSOs.
Yours faithfully,
Help & Shelter- Pamela Nauth & Gaitrie Shivsankar
Blossom Inc. – Ayo Dalgety-Dean
Red Thread - Susan Collymore & Halima Khan Institute of Gender Studies (IGS) - Director, Dr Pauline Bullen
SASOD – Joel Simpson & Mishka Puran Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation - CEO, Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth
ChildLink - Omattie Madray
Danuta Radzik
Alissa Trotz
Vanda Radzik
Josephine Whitehead
Carol Innis-Baptiste
Salima Bacchus-Hinds
Vidyaratha Kissoon
Sherlina Nageer
Janette Bulkan
Renata Chuck-A-Sang
Nicole Cole
Karen de Souza
Joy Marcus
Vanessa Ross
Wintress White
Janice M. Jackson
Christian Vargas
Charlie Tokeley