The Women and Gender Equality Commission yesterday announced plans to set up counselling centres across the country and to set aside next March as ‘Women’s History Month.’
This comes in the wake of increased high-profile cases of domestic violence, especially violence against women.
Speaking at a news conference, Chairman of the Commission Indra Chandarpal said that while both human and financial resources are urgently needed, the body, since its existence in 2009, has had “two solid years” as many of its objectives were achieved.
Chandarpal pointed to the body’s one-year plan from not only given mandates but taking polices from the Ministry of Human Services’ five-year plan.
The commission, which usually reports to the National Assembly, praised the response that it has received from the Guyana Police Force. Previously, other stakeholder organisations had flayed the police for being insensitive in dealing with domestic violence complaints. Chandarpal cited one example where at a consultation a member of the force gave her personal telephone number to women who needed assistance.
She also credited the commission’s successes with support from volunteers and organisations like UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). “We were able to reach out to all our stakeholders,” she said, adding that “we learnt that collaboration is the key in getting through to all and we learnt that more collaboration is needed at the regional level.”
She did, however, note that the commission is in dire need of a vehicle of its own as much money is spent on transportation, since it makes it its duty to serve persons countrywide. Nonetheless, she observed that meetings held in Region 10 were very successful, given the interactive nature of participants there and she thanked persons for the welcomes the members receive whenever they travel.
She said countrywide outreach programmes were held to heighten awareness about the organisation.
Among plans for the organisation is having March of next year be designated “Women’s History Month,” when the achievements of some of the influential women will be highlighted. It also plan to honour the best graduating student in the gender studies programme at the University of Guyana and is working out which methods will be used.
