–to further secure the rights of young women and adolescents

FIRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger has committed to forming partnerships to advocate for commitments to further secure the rights of young women and adolescents.

She did so on Tuesday, during a meeting among other First Ladies on the fringes of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72), currently underway at the United Nations (UN), in New York.

Hosted under the theme, “Global Partnership towards harnessing the demographic dividend in Africa”, the meeting brought together the First Ladies and Spouses of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); members of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA); and First Ladies from other continents, to commit “to mobilise resources so as to prioritise investments in women’s and youth’s health and in particular, the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls.”

Also in attendance at the high-level meeting, were representatives of the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations agencies, the private sector, philanthropists, and civil society, including youth organisations.

The First Lady has been a firm advocate for the empowerment of women through education, and is engaged in several projects aimed at improving opportunities for them to lead productive lives.

Mrs. Granger and the First Ladies and Spouses of CARICOM, through the “Every Caribbean Woman, Every Caribbean Child” initiative, aim to share their knowledge and experience with the view of impacting policy direction for the good of women and children throughout the Region.

The First Lady, in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, is also working towards the reintegration of adolescent mothers into the education system and their social and economic development. She has also thrown her support behind the creation of youth-friendly health centres for teenage girls and boys, and teenage parents, which provide counselling and other support services. (Ministry of the Presidency)