The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has commended the Guyana government for achieving an impressive level of representation of women in parliament and welcomed the appointment of a young female Minister of Amerindian Affairs.

However it has expressed concern about a number of areas and has made certain recommendations as well.

CEDAW has recommended that employment arbitration be provided as an option and measures be taken to prevent delays in litigation. It is urging government to take measures to increase women's awareness and understanding of their rights and provide legal aid facilities, where possible, in co-operation with non-governmental organisations.

Among other concerns raised was that the Constitution does not as yet provide for a complaints procedure to enforce the guarantees on gender equality and fundamental human rights.

Copies of what CEDAW considered positive, as well as the concerns and recommendations coming out of Guyana's report to CEDAW were distributed at a reporting session on Thursday. The Guyana report was presented to the United Nations in July this year.

The reporting session at which Minister in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick, representatives of United Nations agencies in Guyana, donor agencies and governmental and non-governmental organisations were present took place in the boardroom of the CARICOM Secretariat.

According to the CEDAW report, which Administrator of the Women's Affairs Bureau Hazel Halley-Burnett quoted, the committee commended the GOG on its second report. That report is in accordance with the committee's pre-session working group and the oral presentation of the delegation which sought to clarify the current situation of women in Guyana and provided additional information on the implementation of the convention.

Shadick headed the government's two-member delegation with Halley-Burnett. Attorney-at-law Sandra Bart of the Guyana Bar Association and Patricia Hackett of the Caribbean Feminist Research Association (CAFRA) also attended the meeting in New York.

Among the positives, the committee commended the government on the mandatory representation of 33 1/3 per cent women on the lists of all political parties contesting the general and regional elections and the representation of a critical mass of women in a range of professions in the public sector.

The committee also welcomed the adoption of its National Plan of Action for Women 2000-2004 which constitutes a comprehensive approach to addressing critical issues affecting women, such as employment, violence against women and women in decision-making.

CEDAW also recognised that the implementation of structural adjustment programmes, the increasing debt burden, and political instability impeded progress in the full realisation of women's rights.

Under areas of concern, CEDAW noted that in spite of the legal measures introduced, successful implementation of such laws and policies has yet to be achieved in many areas. In dealing with the issue the committee recommended that the government give priority to constitutional and legislative reform to address these gaps and strengthen law enforcement.

The committee is encouraging the government to establish the constitutional commissions, including the Women and Gender Equality Commission, as soon as possible.

CEDAW was concerned too about the effectiveness of the Women's Affairs Bureau in dealing with gender issues and pointed to the insufficient financial and human resources.

While there is a policy on maternity leave, CEDAW is concerned that women continue to be discriminated against on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity, particularly in the private sector where contractual arrangements are also made to circumvent existing laws. Law enforcement, the committee noted, is largely dependent on prosecution by the Chief Labour Officer which does not appear to provide effective remedies. The committee is also urging the government to bring its laws and policies on maternity into conformity with the convention.

It is encouraging government to develop national policy for the private and public sectors that includes minimum mandatory and paid maternity and parental leave, and to provide effective sanctions and remedies for violation of maternity leave laws.

On the situation of rural and Amerindian women on which there was a lack of information in the Guyana Report, CEDAW is encouraging the government to pay greater attention to their needs and to ensure that they benefit from policies and programmes in all areas, in particular, access to decision-making, health, education and social services.

CEDAW has requested that government provide detailed information on the situation of these women in its next report.

On its concern with the growing number of HIV/AIDS cases, especially in Guyana, CEDAW strongly urged government to take a multi-faceted and holistic approach to combating the disease, including broad-based educational strategies and practical prevention efforts targeting women and adolescents.

Noting that local legislation on prostitution dates back to 1893, CEDAW is urging the government to take effective steps to review and amend existing legislation on prostitution in conformity with the conventions and to ensure full implementation and compliance. In view of the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in Guyana, CEDAW is also urging that full attention be paid to the health services available to prostitutes.

Other areas of concern included gender-based violence against women, stereotypical attitudes and behavioural patterns due to cultural beliefs and the high incidence of poverty among women.