THE increasing roles played by women in Guyana, especially at the policy level, have earned this country a favourable review by at least one international organization, according to Human Services and Social Security Minister, Ms Jennifer Webster.

She made the observation Friday while addressing hundreds of women and a handful of men gathered at the International Conference Center at Liliendaal, on the lower East Coast as Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing International Women’s Day.

The minister announced that female representation in the National Assembly has increased from 18.5 per cent in 1992 to 32 per cent in 2012, causing the Inter-Parliamentary Union to rank Guyana 25th out of 189 countries for the highest proportion of women in Parliament.

Minister Webster declared that women are well represented today on every front as never before, since those involvements have placed Guyana in a position to see its “Gender Equality” initiatives climbing.

International Women’s Day was celebrated this year under the theme, “Ending Violence Against Women”, whilst the observance in Guyana was celebrated under the them: “The Gender Agenda Gaining Momentum”.

The minister said that women are generally well represented in public affairs, but there are areas in which their involvement can be improved; as on management boards, in service commissions, in the private sector, and in the labour movement. However, she acknowledged that women in Guyana are visibly holding senior positions at both technical and administrative levels; and control one-third of the positions in the cabinet of government ministers here in Guyana.

She made it clear that the issue of gender equality is not a woman’s issue; that rather everyone has a role to play, including men.

The minister advised men in society that they should embrace women’s empowerment, and see the elevation of women as an opportunity, rather than a threat. The need for boys to respect women and for them to grow up being upstanding gentlemen in society was also underscored. The minister said the young boys in society should be trained to be responsible whenever they socialize with women and girls, be it in the home, school, clubs, workplace or otherwise.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Ms. Khadija Musa, read the speech of the Honourable Mrs Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations Women’s Executive Director, in her absence. The message, in part, spoke to the hope of the United Nations — that the awareness and actions for women will continue to rise — and pointed out that the United Nations believes that “enough is enough”. Added to that, the body is outraged because women and girls continue to suffer high levels of discrimination, violence, and exclusion.

The gathering was also reminded that one of the biggest problems facing women is that they are often blamed for causing the abuse and other forms of disenfranchisement meted out to them.

In adding her personal message to that of the International Women’s Day, Musa told the symposium it remains her view that enough is enough; that violence against women and girls has no place in the 21st Century; and that it’s time for governments to keep the promises they have made, specifically to protect human rights, in keeping with the international conventions and agreements they signed on to. “A promise is a promise,” she concluded.

Friday’s activity was attended by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who was at the time performing the duties of President; several government ministers, trade unionists, and women and men from almost every sector.