While acknowledging progress made on some issues, a United Nations committee on women has expressed concern about women’s limited access to justice in Guyana, reported widespread discrimination against homosexuals and bisexuals, and whether the root causes of trafficking in women were being addressed.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) met in New York on Tuesday to begin its consideration of the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Guyana. Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, led the Guyanese delegation, which also included Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, George Talbot, and other officials. CEDAW monitors the compliance of states with the Convention on the Elimina-tion of All Forms of Discri-mination against Women.
Webster presented Guyana’s report which covers 2004 to 2010. According to a UN report on the meeting, Webster said that Guyana is considering proceeding in line with the recommendations of the Human Rights Council’s 2010 Universal Periodic Review. She noted that the country has acceded to the
