THE Empowering queers using artistic learning (EQUAL) Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), on Tuesday evening, held its first art exhibition, in commemoration of World Human Rights Day, December 10, 2019.
According to Anil Persaud, one of the Directors of EQUAL Guyana, the event was a collaborated effort between the two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) aimed to commemorate sixteen days of activism, which is sixteen days of activism to celebrate human rights, sexual reproductive health and women rights and LGBT rights.

“Year after year we see the same things happening over and over again, oh it’s another speech, and one of the main points of EQUAL Guyana is to use art as a means of education… so what we did was sat down and we thought about sixteen things that are relevant to sixteen days of activism and so we have sixteen paintings each representing a different theme which cover a wide range of aspects and each piece has its own story”, Persaud explained.

EQUAL Guyana is a non-governmental organization which aims to promote equality for all through the engagement, education and empowerment of gender and sexual minorities of the country.

The 16 Days of activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.