The Ministry of Social Protection yesterday open-ed a two-day National Conference on Gender and Development as part of a consultative process for the drafting of a national policy.
At the opening of the conference, which is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre under the theme “Equal rights for all – Be good to people,” UNDP resident representative, Khadija Musa emphasised that a government’s monitoring and implementation of such policies is crucial.
“When policies are developed by governments, they should really put their money where their mouth is and ensure that the policy is absolutely monitored and implemented by everyone. That is really important,” she said.
Musa, in her presentation, noted that many persons mistakenly think only of women when they speak of gender. “Gender does not only mean women. Both men and women are the backbone to take our society forward,” she said. Musa also noted that while all countries have some form of equality policies, women are still struggling for economic equality in both the developed and developing world.
President David Granger, who delivered the feature address, also acknowledged that the enforcement of enabling legislation is often ineffectual. Noting that the momentum for change has slowed, he said that the existing economic and political gap between men and women is still too wide as women and girls are still being left behind.
“Women have made significant strides over the past four decades; there is now much greater awareness of women’s rights. There is, however, still a long way to go to achieving full equality.
The gap in economic, political and social achievement between men and women remains wide. Inequality persists,” the president said.
He told the gathering that the government aims with their assistance and that of other stakeholders to design a national policy aimed at ensuring equality of women in politics and society, eradication of extreme poverty, enhancement of employment opportunities, elimination of violence and enhancing access to education, especially sciences and technology.
Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence told those gathered, “It is the aim of the government of Guyana to develop a society in which both girls and boys, women and men live together in safety and harmony and with dignity and mutual respect.”
Consequently, she noted, “Government is committed to developing a framework for integrating a gender perspective in all policy and programmes” and added that her ministry has embarked upon a “rights-based approach to achieving gender equality as a strategic tool to guide approach to gender equality.”
“We must be able to transform pervading gender ideologies, reduce inequitable gender relations and engender governance practices at all level of public sector organisations,” the minister said, while also expressing the hope that the private sector will soon come on board with these practices.
Organisation of American States (OAS) country representative Jean Ricot Dormeus, in his remarks, noted that the activity echoes one of the OAS’ pillars of protection and promotion of human rights. “There is no future of prosperity and wellbeing without …equity,” he stressed.
He congratulated the government on the conference, which he says “speaks volumes about the importance the government places on gender equitable participation.”
He commended Guyana for its significant and exceptional contributions to the quest for equity in the Americas, including being the only country in the English speaking Caribbean to employ special constitutional measure to ensure the inclusion of women in politics.
