The National Congress of Women (NCW), the women’s arm of the People’s National Congress Reform, salutes all women in Guyana and throughout the world as International Women’s Day, we think of International Women’s Day 2013, we must remember Clara Zetkin and those women in Germany who initiated the observance of this day. We also salute our own Guyanese women, those stalwarts of the PNC Women’s Auxiliary and the WRSM, the forerunners of our organisation, who worked hard for the advancement of the women of our organisation and Guyana as a whole.
Thousands of events occur, not just on this day but throughout March, to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.
The National Congress of Women welcomes the focus of the United Nations in its 2013 theme for International Women’s Day - “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.” This is the fourth time that the UN has seen it fit to highlight ‘Violence Against Women’ in its IWD theme. This was done in 1999, 2007, 2009 and now in 2013.The NCW welcomes this focus because, far too often, in Guyana today, the abuse of women and children has hit the front pages of our newspapers or the media in general.
The numerous murders, or attempted murders, the sexual violations of our sons and daughters, etc, compel us to focus on what exactly is happening to our society and what more should be done to combat this scourge.
The National Congress of Women joins with all other organisations in reiterating the call for strict implementation of the laws of Guyana which deal with Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences, in order that justice could be meted out to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
The NCW also reiterates its call for the Guyana Police Force to carry out more efficient investigations and the Judiciary to deal condignly with those found guilty of these crimes. We also call on our sisters and all other concerned Guyanese to report every known case of abuse at the very earliest opportunity before it is too late.
As we observe IWD 2013, let us recommit ourselves to being our sisters/brothers keepers as we work together on all fronts to bring a halt to this spate of murders and other heinous crimes, which are being perpetrated with frightening regularity in this our Dear Land of Guyana.
National Congress of Women (NCW)
Thursday 7th March 2013
People's National Congress Reform
Congress Place, Sophia
Georgetown, Guyana.
Tel: 592-225-7852-5
Email: pnc_reform@hotmail.com; peoples_national_congress@yahoo.com