Walk for equality today

The Guyana Equality Forum (GEF) will run off its second annual “Walk for Equality” today to observe Human Rights Day.

The walk, which will begin at 3pm at the Parade Ground on Middle and Carmichael streets, is being hosted under the theme “Equal rights and justice for all Guyanese; no exceptions,” the GEF said in a press release issue on Thursday.

The GEF is partnering in the event with Red Thread, the Guyana National Youth Council, the Guyana Girl Guides Association, the Guyana Entertainment Magazine (GEM) and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

Like the rest of the world, the GEF said, it is observing Human Rights Day under the global theme declared by the United Nations, “20 years working for your rights.” This 20-year highlight, it added, marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action at the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in 1993.

Participants in the walk will move off from the Parade Ground west along Middle Street; south into Main Street; east into Church Road; south into Avenue of the Republic, south into High Street; east into Brickdam; north down Camp Street; and west into Middle Street before ending at Parade Ground with a brief programme.

The GEF, which said all are invited to support the call for equality, is expecting participation from a wide cross-section of civil society, governmental and international partners, and the general public. Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Patrick Findlay, Women and Gender Equality Commissioner Vanda Radzik and UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Guyana Dr. Roberto Brant Campos are expected to address the participants in the walk.

The GEF is a network of civil society groups working cohesively to achieve equality and realise human rights for all Guyanese. It is currently chaired by Red Thread while SASOD serves as its administrative secretariat.