.jpg)
The Commission has two events planned: on the 8th March (today), there will be the airing of a panel discussion on Chapter 25 of the National Development Strategy. This will be followed by the hosting of an Exhibition in the corridors of the Parliament Buildings from March 15-31. We are indeed pleased that International Women’s Day has become a rallying point for women in our country and around the world, in assessing and analyzing the achievements with one objective, i.e., to change the status of women and to allow them equal shares in all aspects of life.
The Commission would like to use this occasion to reiterate the need for unity and leadership to advance the rights and status of women here, at home in Guyana, and in the wider world. At the international level, such efforts have been symbolized and exemplified by the significant actions of the garment workers of the USA, whose struggle coincided with those of the women in Germany, led by Clara Zeitkin, a passionate champion for women rights. It was because of her dynamic leadership at the Second International Conference in 1910 that March 8th was set as International Proletariat Women’s Day.
In 1910, another important event had unfolded when, at the First International Feminist Congress held in Buenos Aires, in Argentina, a programme was proposed which included female suffrage, access to education, and the need for a wide range of social legislation to protect and support working women.
This programme came at a very critical juncture. Since a new situation had emerged at the end of the 19th century, with the explosive population growth of the main urban centres in Latin America. This, along with the creation of normal schools increased educational opportunities for women and their employment as teachers, contributed to the emergence of journals advocating women’s rights and a female critique of discriminatory practices based on gender.
Teachers were the first generation of educated women in Latin America who formed the nucleus of the first women’s group to articulate a feminist critique of society, protesting the unequal status of women and their limited access to education, as well as political and economic power.
The activism of the women of North and South America brought into being the Inter American Commission of Women in 1928.
The first and second world wars, along with the Great Depression and the struggles of peoples to rid themselves of colonialism took centre stage for more than four decades, thus placing the struggle for women’s rights on the back burner.
However, important events occurred after the Second World War which were of great significance; these were the formation of the Women’s International Democratic Federation in 1948, as well as the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in the same year.
The 1960’s and 1970’s saw the rise of feminism when International Women’s Day was reinstated in the international calendar 64 years after the first International Women’s Day was proclaimed.
An interesting point to note is that in the course of two centuries, only two countries provided opportunities for women to vote, the first being the US, where women could stand to vote in 1778, and in New Zealand, where women had the right to vote in 1893.
The twentieth century was a dynamic one that ushered in a plethora of events that have transformed the lives of people in a fundamental way.
The emergence of International Women’s Day on the international calendar since 1975 by the United Nations has provided the catalyst for women the world over to lobby for change individually and collectively.
The Women and Gender Equality Commission acknowledges the strides made by the women of Guyana since 1975 to the present. We are mindful that many actions were taken to provide the legal safeguards for women while recognizing that there remain a number of impediments. We are pleased with the many actions of the government and NGOs in advancing the empowerment of women through the different ministries, agencies and initiatives.
We look forward to greater action and implementation of the relevant policies and laws that guarantee and protect women’s rights, gender equality and access to justice under Guyana’s Constitution by all relevant state, public and private sector agencies and civil society organisations.
The Commission is grateful for all the support it has received in carrying out its mandate and we wish to thank all the stake holders who have contributed to the very many discussions and suggestions in giving effect to our mandates.
Let us use this occasion to celebrate the progress made since 1975 and to encourage more young women to reflect on the journey that was undertaken since 1911 to arrive at this juncture of society’s development, and to assume their role as leaders in the struggle for realizing full women’s rights, gender justice and gender equality.
