APNU+AFC recognises that “Women” are the custodians of the fundamental values that sustain families, and are critical for success in generating social wealth and creating an environment of peace, justice, security and stability. APNU+AFC also recognises, supports and celebrates women’s leadership, participation and contributions to society, and pledges to uphold and promote the full rights, dignity and wellbeing of all women, thus creating a greater voice for women, the girl child and children in general, within the broader society.
APNU+AFC’s Platform for Women & Gender Equality will:
* Work closely with local, national and international bodies to increase women’s entrepreneurial activities.
* Increase microcredit programmes and access to small business loans/grants.
* Establish Job Centres in each administrative region to facilitate job search and employment matching.
* Advocate the introduction of lower interest rates at financial institutions for female headed households and first time home owners.
* Promote gender-friendly banking services especially in the area of loans to women.
* Implement a Child Tax Credit programme for employers.
* Introduce tax credits for companies providing in-house daycare facilities.
* Increase government-funded childcare centres to support women, especially estranged mothers, single mothers, victims of various forms of abuse.
* Amend the Labour laws to incorporate “flexitime,” which permits women to work from home and promote increase part-time employment opportunities.
* Implement immediately remedial programmes for women focusing on Literacy, Numeracy and Matriculation.
* Encourage women to enter non-traditional areas of employment including information technology, auto mechanics, electrical repairs, carpentry and to enter technical training institutes.
* Establish with assistance from national and international agencies scholarships for disadvantaged women to pursue tertiary education.
In Guyana, several constraints limit our women’s collective capacity to transform these principles into everyday practice.