“A guide to the rights of women” booklet was launched by the Social Protection Ministry on Monday at Parliament Building, GINA said.
The 48-page booklet contains information on the Equal Rights Act, Prevention of Discrimination Act, Rights in Marriage or Common Law Act, Divorce, Maternity Rights, Maintenance and Custody, Domestic Violence and Women’s Rights in the workplace and where to access legal aid among other information.
GINA said that information about the rights in the booklet was taken from Guyana’s Constitution and laws, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Prevention of Discrimination Act and the Equal Rights Act.
Yvonne Stephenson, who compiled the booklet said in many cases women are unaware of their rights and where to seek information for legal aid, but the booklet provides pertinent information for improving themselves.
Stephenson noted that past Guyanese women were not given the privileges of these rights which resulted in the hard work of Janet Jagan, Jane Phillips Gay and Jessica Burnham who fought for the change when they became the first three women to enter the legislative assembly.
Despite the many steps taken by agencies to protect women, Stephenson noted in the GINA release that women are fearful of rejection and refuse help. It is anticipated that this publication will remove such fear.
The release said that indigenous people and other organisations are being urged to partner with the ministry to have the booklet printed in their dialect for women in the hinterland.
