The final two members of the Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission were sworn in by President Bharrat Jagdeo at his office on Friday.

Magda Pollard and Bibi Ali took the oaths as commissioner on the Women and Gender Equality Commission and Rights of the Child Commission, respectively. Speaking with reporters afterwards, Pollard said the women’s commission has a big role to play in terms of the relationship between men and women and what can be achieved in Guyana “if we are working together; if we understand the capabilities and the abilities of our population.”

She said the commission is concerned with the status of women and this, and the question of achieving equality will be dealt with. The commission “is one for which we did a little bit of a fight and it was approved in the Constitution reforms situation at the time and since it is a constitutional commission I think that those of us who will be working on it will be very anxious to achieve what our terms of reference will be,” she added. She said among the greatest challenges facing Guyanese women are their economic and social status, the question of domestic violence as well as health and education “and the fact that they need to be out their making their contribution as they can do”. Pollard said the commission has not been operating because she had not yet taken her oath. “I believe that they will now recognise that there is a full house and so they will keep moving,” she said.

Ali, meantime, said she has been working with children for the past 37 years to ensure their rights are respected and observed. She said she worked towards the improvement of the conditions of children. “I intend to continue that work to ensure that the rights of all children are observed and respected,” she added.

She said on the commission, she would like to focus on child abuse as this is a critical issue in society. At all ages children are being abused now so “I would hope that through my work we would have a reduction of child abuse because this would really be an area of focus,” she said.

Ali further said a two-pronged approach would be taken, saying that in addition to rights, children have to be aware that they have responsibilities too.