The cry against discrimination

THE more we experience new things in life, there is a reality which tells us that there is some social debris worth discarding from within our social spaces including but not limited to discrimination, social exclusion, stigmatisation, unfair judgments, and the list can be pretty long but I’d stop here for now.

There are many individuals who have severe difficulty in attempting to co-exist and simply find a space to survive, and this difficulty may have emerged due to medical, psychological and /or physical conditions. Some of these very individuals who have also found themselves falling prey to suicidal attempts given the extent of their social exclusion, are clients of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN), and on many occasions, are offered customised counselling support aimed at providing them with a sense of hope.

The toxicity of inequality and discrimination needs to be addressed urgently if humankind is to be salvaged; “The Power Within: Love Your Body, Love You” carded for January 26, 2017, is a unique conference that is intended to be a blueprint to begin the process of mind-shifting and as well as providing a clearer understanding of the importance of equality in social spaces which tantamount to the fundamental principle of TT ’s national anthem “every creed and race finds and equal place.” Leading the cast of presenters for this event is Harnaam Kaur, a 25-year-old British national who suffers from a medical condition called “polycystic ovarian syndrome” which causes excessive hair growth throughout the body.

Because of this condition, Kaur suffered tremendously at the hands of others who sought to bully and insult her, but despite the odds, she was able to withstand the test of human survival; she now uses her condition to raise awareness globally about diversity, inclusiveness and body shaming. Kaur was recently inducted into the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest bearded female in the world.

Other speakers include professionals from TT , the United States and London, who all work and provide support to individuals across the broad spectrum of psychological and physical impairment.

Dr Gabrielle Hosein, head of the Institute for Gender Development Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI); Prof Gerard Hutchinson, head of the Clinical Medical Sciences Department, UWI and head of Psychiatric Services at the North- West Regional Health Authority; Dr Jacqueline Huggins, manager, Student Life and Development Support, UWI; Gregory Sloane- Seale, programme co-ordinator, Citizen Security Programme, Ministry of National Security and social activist, Margaret Rose, attorney, managing partner and head of the Public Procurement Practice at Rose Law Caribbean (London); Pauline Haynes, certified life coach, trainer and director at the International Women’s Resource Network (United States); Gail Merhair, president of the San Juan Business association and managing director, gm advertising; Danaja M Garland, youth activist and manager, administration and volunteerism, IWRN (United States) and yours truly.

There is a loud global cry for equality and social justice, and all are asked to be part of this platform.

For more info on this conference: 638-1083, 268-6078 and 684- 6982.

To obtain a copy of the book With Women in Mind call 283-0318 or 795-9531.

Sandrine Rattan is a communications, branding consultant, author and president of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN. Contact: thecorporatesuitett@ gmail.com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail