The Women and Gender Equality Commission (W&GEC) in collaboration with the University of Guyana’s Institute of Gender Studies (UG-IGS) has embarked on a community outreach project across four regions to increase female leadership in decision-making.
The project was made possible after a cheque to the tune of Cdn$26,711.41 was handed over by High Commissioner of Canada Pierre Giroux to Chair-person of the W&GEC Indra Chandarpal. The Commission expressed their sincere appreciation to the High Commissioner of Canada and stated that they are looking forward to continuing collaboration with the organization in future.
The outreach, deemed by W&GEC to be successful in terms of increasing the knowledge and understanding of gender equality, was carried out in regions 2, 4, 6 and 10. According to a press release from the commission, this success is a step toward achieving Goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is to “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”
In addition to this, the commission said it has partnered with the National Toshaos Council (NTC) to provide education and awareness of the role increasing the representation of women at the decision–making level can play in impacting development in the indigenous communities.
The Commission also highlighted additional targets it managed to meet, which include the nomination of two non-governmental Gender Advocates to serve on the UG-IGS Advisory Board; a commitment to make the Parliament Chamber wheelchair-accessible for Persons with Disabilities; the prospect of a presentation submitted by Dr Linda Peake of York University at a seminar on Gender Development being inputted into a new policy for urban planning, after interest was shown by Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson; and the request for use of materials and hand-outs produced for a local government seminar in other municipalities and to have these workshops delivered again for those candidates who were elected to serve on the Town Councils.
The release added that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) issues were recommended as a part of the UG-IGS’ course and during a discussion at a parliamentary seminar strong recommendations were made for legislation to decriminalise same sex activity.
