A number of organisations including the Canadian High Commission, have pledged to combine their energies to combat gender bias and support gender equality.
In a release yesterday, the Canadian High Commission noted its collaboration with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Impressions Branding, and United Nations Guyana as a part of their efforts to increase the support for gender equality in Guyana in celebration of International Women’s Day.
This year’s event, it stated, is the second year of collaboration between the High Commission of Canada and GBTI for International Women’s Day.
Present at the event was Canadian High Commissioner, Mark Berman; Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud; UN Representative (Ag), Nicholas Pron; Managing Director of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), James Foster; Chief Executive Officer of Impressions Branding, Neil Suklal; and other guests. They gathered yesterday to “to once and for all shatter the gender biases” in their organisations and communities.
High Commissioner Mark Berman who spoke at the event, highlighted some of the progress made towards gender equality including Guyana’s 35 per cent gender quota in parliament which is higher than the worldwide average. He noted however, that there is still much more work to be done in terms of transforming social norms.
“It’s not only about ensuring access to services and opportunities, it also involves transforming social norms, power dynamics and structural barriers to equality.”
Meanwhile, Minister Persaud spoke about her ministry’s intention to make Guyana the first country to change the gender dynamics and have a balanced society where women play an equal role. “Men, make space because we’re here to stay and it’s not about getting on anyone’s turf, it’s merely seeing that there’s space for all of us, for our voices, for a presence and for contributions,” she was quoted as saying.
The Minister also expressed her pleasure at seeing the amount of visibility, support and conversations being had around gender equality as International Women’s Day is being celebrated.
Preya Mohandeo of GBTI, and Debbie Persaud of Impressions Branding, both used the opportunity to highlight how women are breaking the glass ceiling in the workforce and taking up roles previously dominated by men.
The event ended with each organisational representative signing their commitment to continue to promote gender equality in their individual organisations and spheres of influence.
