THE Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) in presenting its Seventh Annual Report to Speaker of the National Assembly urged the prompt establishment of the Human Rights Commission with the appointment of a chairperson and chief executive officer.

This is one of the first of some 19 recommendations within the report, which was handed over to Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland on Wednesday in Parliament.
Delivering remarks, WGCE Chairperson Indranie Chandarpal stated that, since the last report, the commission has observed improvements which it attributes to the functioning of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).

“We’re very pleased about that and we’re hoping since that commission is in place that the Human Rights Commission will be in place very shortly. All of us are aware that the Human Rights Commission has a role to play in all these rights commissions…and because of the slothful nature in having the Human Rights Commission in place, it is causing some difficulties in terms of getting things done,” she said.

As such, she addressed the Speaker: “We would like, perhaps, to urge the National Assembly and, through you sir, to encourage the offices or the agencies that are responsible to move the process forward.”

Giving a sneak peek into the report which will become public once presented in Parliament, Chandarpal said that recommendations are also in place for a harmonised Code of Law on Women’s Rights.

“This should be one book that contains all the laws protecting women, but set out as a code and separate laws. The code should be harmonised with international law obligations and with other national laws to ensure that there are no gaps in the protection for women,” the WGEC chairperson said.

The report also suggests that certain amendments be made to legislation, which still allows discrimination against women.
Chandarpal also encouraged the media to ensure that further coverage ensues on the report, which would aid not only the commission in its work, but the rights and awareness of the rights of women countrywide.

WGEC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Diana Swan-Lawrence in her remarks, referenced the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA), which allows for the financial autonomy of constitutional entities to better serve the public.

However, she added that it is unfortunate that WGEC is unable to benefit fully from the arrangement due to the human rights secretariat arrangement of 2010 still being in place.
“In the absence of the chairperson and chief executive officer, the Human Rights Commission Secretariat is managed by the finance and administrative officer who lacks the necessary experience and leadership for such an important office,” she said.

Swan-Lawrence also underscored the need for training in leadership for the private services and sector, to ensure that a cadre of competent individuals eventually becomes the successors.

“Thankfully under the offices of the Honourable Joseph Harmon, Minister of State and the Honourable Rupert Roopnaraine, Minister of the Public Service, Guyana has taken a significant role in the transformation of leadership development programmes,” she said, later adding:
“I call on all public service ministries, public and private sector organisations to take full advantage of this essential training.”

In response, the Speaker agreed with the remarks made by Chandarpal, stating: “The press is indispensable, so we want the press to get it right and we want the press to also help us to get it right.”

He further stated that he is very pleased to receive the report as he endorsed the work of the commission, even as he reminded that they can make known the areas in which they need assistance to better conduct their duties.

“The door is open for us to receive from all heads of commissions information which, in working with us, can assist you working smoother if there is such a difficulty,” he said.
The aim of the WGCE is to promote national recognition and acceptance that women’s rights are human rights, respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality.