The Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) has expressed dismay at the exclusion of women from the Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry.
In noting the Government’s establishment of an eleven-member Commission of Inquiry to address the current woes of the sugar industry, the GAWL articulated that it was “very disappointed that all eleven members are men.”
According to a press release yesterday from the GAWL, “the association is of the firm view that there are several competent women who are ready, willing and able to make a meaningful contribution to the work of the commission.”
Further, the GAWL said over the years, it was always an advocate for “gender balance in all spheres of activity in our society” whether by state or private entity and has been public about its views “particularly in reminding of the need for gender balance on state and private boards.”
Principally, the GAWL said it “wishes to remind the Government that the APNU+AFC Manifesto states at page 36 that ‘APNU+AFC recognise that gender equality is an intrinsic human right.’”
“We support the proposition and look forward to the Government giving more than lip service [to] those words,” the Association said. “We accordingly urge the Government to immediately address this situation as it clearly demonstrates a complete lack of gender sensitivity on its part.”
