Guyana renews call for justice for Palestine, immediate end to Gaza blockade

Guyana has renewed its call for an immediate surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the lifting of Israel’s blockade, with Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud warning that armed conflicts such as the war in Palestine are disproportionately devastating women and girls.

Addressing the second meeting of the Group of Parliaments in Support of Palestine at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Türkiye on Wednesday, Dr. Persaud said the escalating violence in Gaza is part of a wider global pattern in which women and girls bear the heaviest burden of war.

“With increased armed conflict in the world, more women and girls are killed, raped, starved, dehumanised and treated to the worst indignities,” Dr. Persaud said.

Dr. Persaud linked the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza to the broader fight for justice, dignity and gender equality. She described the crisis in Palestine as one of the gravest humanitarian failures of modern times, saying that since October 7, 2023, the devastation in Gaza has become “one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes.”

“The collapse of basic services and the weaponisation of aid are unimaginable circumstances for modern civilization.

“The Palestinian people deserve an end to the brutal occupation that has frustrated the realisation of their aspirations to a higher standard of life,” Dr Persaud said.  

Reaffirming Guyana’s longstanding support for Palestinian self-determination, Dr. Persaud said Guyana remains committed to a two-state solution and has consistently backed United Nations resolutions calling for peace and justice for Palestine. Guyana formally recognised the State of Palestine in 2011 and has repeatedly advocated for Palestinian statehood in international forums.

Drawing a parallel between Palestine and Guyana’s own policies on justice and protection, Dr. Persaud said access to justice is central to achieving equality, especially for women affected by violence. She highlighted Guyana’s recent reforms, including the 2024 Family Violence Act, expanded sexual offences legislation, specialised courts, digital reporting systems, and Hope and Justice Centres that provide survivors with legal, medical and psychosocial support.

She stressed that women’s empowerment must remain central in conflict and post-conflict recovery, noting that economic independence is a key pillar of security. Dr. Persaud was joined at the meeting by Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy and Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, as Guyana reaffirmed its commitment to international efforts for a just and lasting peace in Palestine.