Manickchand says…
Dark shadows over achievements towards gender equality
By Clifford Stanley
Guyana Chronicle
March 11, 2007
THE achievements of Guyanese women in pursuit of gender equality in recent years are cause for great celebration but the persistence of violence against them and girls casts a dark shadow over those gains, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand has said.
According to her, women need to join hands and “walk the talk” to ensure that the dark cloud is pushed back and all can benefit from an environment of respect and the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The minister made the remarks at a seminar in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice, Friday, ahead of the observance of International Women’s Day on March 8.
She spoke in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, where the participants included representatives of women’s organisations throughout the region as well as schoolgirls from two leading secondary schools.
The event was organised and hosted by the Regional Women’s Affairs Committee under the theme ‘Ending impunity of violence against women and girls’.
Manickhand traced the rise in prominence of women in Guyana from the 1840s to date and said: “We, today, are beneficiaries of the activism of our foreparents, the courageous women who struggled against colonialism and the discrimination which hindered their growth as women.”
She continued: “We must honour such women as Janet Jagan, Jane Phillips-Gay and Winifred Gaskin, who fought for rights such as adult suffrage and the right to vote. They have made a significant contribution and it is now up to us to take on the mantle like a relay race and move forward.”
Manickchand remarked that, had it not been for the courage of those early fighters, many women, like herself, might not have been able to reach the levels from which they now serve.
But she added: “Regrettably, though, despite our achievements, women, young girls and children still face domestic and other forms of violence.”
Manickchand said 28 women were reported killed in 2006 despite all the years of talking and other action about eradicating violence against women and girls.
“Coming here and talking about it, year after year, is a waste of time. More has to be done,” she declared, challenging those in the audience to make a decision to inform themselves about the problem, agree what the solutions are and do all they can to ensure that similar seminars are no longer necessary.
Manickchand said the government is committed to maintaining an environment in which the issue can always be effectively addressed.
Resource persons for the one-day programme included Women’s Affairs Committee officials in Region Five, Ms. Sandra McLean and Ms. Sandra Baldeo and Administrator of the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB), Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. Ms. Hymawattie Lagan.
The participants discussed aspects of violence against women and girls and made recommendations as to how those issues could be addressed.
Their proposals are to be forwarded to the WAB for incorporation into a national plan for the eradication of domestic violence, Lagan said.
Manickhand said the plan is being drafted and should be in effect from about the middle of this year.