| —amplifies concern about sexual harassment Sexual harassment can simply be characterised by a look, a touch or even the way a person speaks to you.This notion was emphasised by Head Mistress of the Winfer Garden Primary School, Ms Jennifer Cumberbatch, yesterday. Cumberbatch was at the time addressing a simple ceremony which was held to unveil a Rights of the Child (ROC) Billboard, intended to amply concerns about the problem of sexual harrassment. The billboard has been strategically placed on a plot of land owned by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) situated on the southern side of Brickdam between Chalmers and Austin Places.The event was attended by several school students, a few of whom are members of the ROC organisation.In relating to scenarios of sexual harassment, Cumberbatch revealed that the social problem could be prevalent in schools among students and even family members. It could be even more dangerous, she added, when the perpetrator has a position of authority such as a doctor, a teacher or lecturer, or even an older friend of the family.“In such cases,MLB Jerseys From China, children are often afraid to complain about the behaviour. He or she does not want to risk his or her health, he or she does not want to get a bad grade or lose a job or get a bad name…”In essence, Cumberbatch related that writers have described sexual harassment in various ways. It has been explained by one writer as an expression of anger, or aggression towards an individual; any unwanted remarks,Cheap Jerseys, behaviour or touch that has sexual contents or it is simply a form of power of one person over another which can result in harmful consequences to the victim.“A person might call it all sorts of things but once you are uncomfortable with it, it is sexual harassment…”And sexual harassment, she said, can occur in almost any environment and could have many disguises. It is sometimes passed off as simply “flirting,” she disclosed.“We must be aware,NFL Jerseys From China,” she warned, adding that the effects can cause a lot of stress and embarrassment, resulting in the victim’s inability to perform at school or work optimally. Failure to live up to the perpetrator’s expectation could result in the victim being demoted, fired or even shunned.According to ROC member, Michelle Henry, the ROC organisation became involved with combating sexual harassment in 2006, by advocating the need to raise the age of consent to 18. And this, she said, was done through parliamentary discussion which saw interaction with the Select Committee responsible for legislation to change the age of consent.Students and members of the ROC organisation admire the billboardSimultaneously, ROC was engaged in activities reflecting the importance of stamping out violence against women. This was evident by the painting of murals with the theme ‘Stamp out violence against women’, one of which currently hangs in the waiting area of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.In 2007, ROC extended its concern with a new project called Fear, Force and Resistance, an 18-minute documentary in DVD form, produced to tackle sexual violence in teen relationships. It was in fact created with the help of a group of fourth form students from the Brickdam Secondary School and was accompanied by a leaflet. The DVD was used in high schools countrywide to raise awareness among students and to help combat the problem of sexual violence, Henry related.Another project ‘Everyday Ordeals’, she said, addresses sexual harassment in Guyana and came into being in 2009. It was designed in the form of a kit which includes a booklet of lesson plans and a visual DVD teaching aid.“Though we are currently using the kit in schools, ROC believes the issue of sexual harassment is wider and affects young girls in their everyday life: in buses, on the streets, in their homes, etc…”As an additional piece of material to Everyday Ordeals, Henry said that a decision was made to create the billboard. It is anticipated that the messages of the Billboard will penetrate those that view it and eventually help to effect change which will reverse the current trend of sexual harassment in the society.The messages depicted on the billboard are the handiwork of students from various institutions including Queen’s College, President’s College, School of the Nations, Central High,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys, St Joseph’s High, Dolphin Secondary, Christ Church and a few from the University of Guyana, and speaks to the importance of reporting matters of sexual harassment.According to ROC’s Coordinator, Teshanna Cox, the project saw the students sitting together and sketching different “paper version” ideas during the initial stages. The ideas were subsequently put together in a single design. The design was then painted onto four separate smooth zinc-sheets by the group which amounted to about 14 students. It was subsequently clear coated with varnish to protect it from the weather and it was just about a week ago that GT&T came onboard, offering its assistance to not only provide the material for the erection of the billboard,Cheap NHL Adidas Jerseys, but also the land space.GT&T’s Renatha Exeter who graced the unveiling ceremony yesterday said that the company recognises the importance of ROC and its message,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, adding that without the youth of today Guyana’s future would be non-existent. |
