Inaugural Gender Empowerment & Equality Ministerial forum kicks off on Wednesday

See below statement issued by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security:

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is proud to announce the upcoming Ministerial forum on Gender Empowerment and Equality, titled “Shared experiences towards developing robust national and regional models for the 2030 Agenda.”

This three-day event, set to take place from November 1, aims to have the Regional delegates share experience on the strategies to tackle gender equality and empowerment.

The forum will feature key stakeholders from across the region including:

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Hon. Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister – Gender and Child Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago

Hon. Orando Brewster – Minister of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Youth, Housing and Informal Human Settlement, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Hon. Philip Telesford – Minister of Social and Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs, Grenada

Hon. Joachim Henry, Minister of Health and Wellness and Elderly Affairs, St. Lucia

Mr. Oscar Requena, Minister of Local Government, Belize

In a region where women’s empowerment varies significantly, Guyana has taken an integrated approach to address issues relating to Gender Equality and Empowerment. This event will focus on two main pillars:

1. Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Statistics indicate that intimate partner violence affects a portion of women’s lives. Guyana will present its comprehensive model to the CARICOM delegates emanating from the collaboration with the Spotlight initiative.
2. Support for Women in the Workplace: While women in Guyana often outperform men in educational attainment, their labour force participation remains significantly lower than men. The event will discuss policies and initiatives to support women in the workplace.

The forum’s agenda includes panel discussions on key gender-related issues, as well as presentations from women leaders from across the region. Highlights of the event include:

*Day 1 – Gender-Responsive Budgeting

This session will delve into the mainstreaming of gender issues in public policy through the budget. It will explore the experiences of government authorities in implementing gender-based policies and the impact of gender budgeting.

Gender Mainstreaming in Legislative and Policy Frameworks:

This day will focus on the status of legislation affecting women and international best practices. Key policy areas to be discussed include legislative frameworks protecting women from GBV and workplace discrimination, reproductive health, public services that support women in the workplace, workplace policies on sexual harassment, and much more.

*Day 2 – Gender-Based Violence

Experts will provide insights into the current context of gender-based violence in Guyana and the region, gender roles, safety networks for women, and the services available to support victims.

*Day 3- Addressing Poverty Among Women, Development of Strong Social safety Nets and Climate Resilience.

Discussions will also address communication, experiences, and education for men in the context of masculinity and their role in combating GBV.

This Ministerial Forum on Gender Empowerment and Equality is a significant step towards creating a more equitable and empowered future for women and include a strong partnership with their male counterparts in the region.