-Commission to honour over 50 women of African descent
CHAIRPERSON of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Indranie Chandarpal, Thursday submitted the commission’s first periodic report to Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Clarissa Riehl, to table in Parliament. The report is basically a status report of the work of the commission and includes its work plan, special programmes, and other activities.

Riehl lauded the members of the commission for completing a report in such a timely manner.  
The commission consists of 16 members, chosen from various bodies, including the private sector, Regional Affairs Committee, Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB), and the labour movement, who were sworn-in by President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Their mandate includes:
* recommending and implementing legislation and formulating policies that seek to enhance and protect the status of women.
* initiating research and creating a suitable database on women and gender issues, particularly as it relates to reproductive health, domestic violence and socio-economic and political status.
* promoting consultation and co-operation with women organisations in relation to decision-making that will effect changes on the lives of women, and
* recommending training and assistance relevant to the improvement of women and girls, while at the same time facilitating women’s participation in decision-making.   
In observance of Year of People of African Descent, the commission will, on August 27, be honouring over 50 women of African descent for their sterling contribution towards national development at the National Cultural Center.
Meanwhile, as requested by the members of the commission, the staff of the parliament library also handed over a document to Chandarpal, consisting of information on 84 female parliamentarians and another one is being prepared, documenting all the male parliamentarians. 
Chandarpal said that this information will be useful to students and researchers and for historic references. (GINA)