Government reassessing gender equality policy

THE 10-MONTHS OLD IRFAAN ALLY ADMINISTRATION IS REVIEWING THE
COUNTRY’S NATIONAL GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
POLICY (NGESIP) a well-placed source confided to www.aroundthgeregions.com
The NGESIP has been formulated by the ousted David Granger A Partnership for National
Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government while Amna Ally was Minister of
Social Protection (MoSP).
Since the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) coalition was re-elected in the March
2020 highly-disputed polls, MoSP has reverted to its original name, Ministry of Human
Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) under Dr Vindhya Persaud.
APNU+AFC is now the major opposition in the 12 th Parliament.
The overarching vision of the NGESIP, under review, seeks to transform this multiracial
Republic into a society “devoid of gender discrimination, guaranteeing equal access to
political, social and economic wealth creation opportunities for women and men,” a
document on the policy explains.
It says that the National Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy envisions
“developing a culture that places premium on the protection of all including children.”
“In furtherance of this goal, the government shall promote the full participation of women,
men, girls and boys by involving both the public and private sectors as agents of
development,” the document states.
As conceived, the government sees itself as the conduit for rapid healthy development of
Guyanese women and men “in the mainstream of the national development processes (to)
ensure the survival, protection, development and participation of all children in preparation
for a meaningful adult life”.
According to the NGESIP blueprint, these will be achieved on the following planks:
 Eradicating discrimination
 Eliminating all forms of violence;
 Enjoying the right to safe public spaces;
 Promoting economic development and inclusion;
 Governance and the Law; ▪ Health, wellness and healthcare;
 Agriculture, The Environment, and Climate Change;
 Education, Training and Skills Development;
 Security, Human Rights and Justice (Peace and Conflict); and

 Media and Information.
As a member of the United Nations (UN) Guyana has inked and ratified multiple
international instruments, treaties and conventions which require elimination of gender
discriminations, and counsel member states to ensure equality and human dignity to all, men
and women.
Guyana has signed and ratified these unreservedly.
Nevertheless, “some traditions, customs and stereotypes of social roles and cultural prejudice
continue to militate against enjoyment of rights and full participation of women on an equal
basis with men in national development,” the local document admits.
The NGESIP replaces the National Policy on Women, and according to the more recent
policy, “would help to eliminate all such barriers” since it is on par with relevant regional and
international protocols and instruments such as the Beijing Platform for Action; the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW);
the International Conference on Population Development Plan of Action (ICPDPA) and the
Sustainable Development Goals.
“Promoting gender equality is now globally accepted as a development strategy for reducing
poverty levels among women and men, improving health and living standards and enhancing
efficiency of public investments,” it says.
For Guyana, gender equality is a prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable
development and not necessarily “an end in itself and human rights issue,” the policy
document under review explains.