The theme, “Working in Solidarity - Women, Human Rights and Peace” was chosen to direct the thoughts of women and men to the relationship between women’s rights and human rights and their collective contributions to world peace.

In an address to the symposium, Dr Sreelakshmi Gururaja, Assistant Representative of the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), noted that women’s rights cannot be omitted from human rights. She said if women are not free to make choices and access information, this would, in effect, deprive women of certain basic rights as human beings.

Dr. Gururaja, whose professional career involves the promotion of rights of children, noted that gender discrimination starts in the womb. She pointed to countries where the female fetus is aborted.

In a message directed primarily at young Guyanese women, Dr. Gururaja urged that they realise that their capacity for learning is no less than that of the boys’. She advised that young women extend themselves into whatever avenues of learning they choose.

According to the UNICEF official. 85 per cent of war victims are women and it is time for women and policy-makers to find ways for involving women in conflict resolution.

Mrs. Phillomena Sahoye-Shury, a Former Deputy Mayor of Georgetown and a stalwart in advancing women’s role, especially at the political level, noted that Guyana has gone a long way in promoting women’s rights.

She pointed to the Domestic Violence Act, the Gender Discrimination Act, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and the other pieces of legislation, which have been enacted to promote women rights.

Sahoye-Shury, a Parliamentary Secretary, reminded participants that while much has been done for women, much more needs to be done. She pointed to domestic abuse in all its forms, including psychological, that still plagues many women today.

In an invited comment, former First Lady and Former President of Guyana, Mrs. Janet Jagan said she is proud to be a woman. Mrs. Jagan spent a great part of her life in politics, promoting women’s rights and supporting her husband, Former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan in his fight for Guyana’s Independence and for workers’ rights, especially those on the sugar estates.

Wednesday’s symposium included a cultural presentation where well-known female calypsonians ‘Sweet Monix’ and ‘Lady Tempest’ sang about some of the challenges facing women. The younger women had their say in poetry.