THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Gender Affairs Bureau has officially launched the Intra-Ministry Gender Focal Point Committee, a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering the Ministry’s efforts in gender and development.
This committee is designed to support the Bureau by integrating gender mainstreaming strategies and building capacities for gender inclusion within various organisational processes and content.
Adel Lilly, Manager of the Gender Affairs Bureau, highlighted the significance of the Gender Focal Point Committees. These committees, which the Bureau plans to establish across all Ministries, are tasked with researching gender issues and making informed recommendations to their respective Ministries. “These bodies will conduct research on gender issues and make recommendations to their Ministries around gender and development,” Lilly explained.

The committees comprise members from each department within the Ministries. To date, committees have been formed within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Housing, and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. The launch event included a training session to enhance the committee members’ understanding of gender mainstreaming, equality, and analysis within the public sector.
The Gender Affairs Bureau, established in 2016 through the merger of the Women’s Affairs Bureau and the Men’s Affairs Bureau, serves as the national body responsible for the administration of gender affairs at the governmental level. Its mission is to promote and advance gender issues, aiding both women and men in realising their potential as citizens of Guyana through the achievement of gender equality, equity, and identity.
The launch of the Intra-Ministry Gender Focal Point Committee marks a significant step forward in the bureau’s ongoing efforts to embed gender perspectives into all aspects of government policy and practice, ensuring that gender considerations are integral to the development and implementation of public sector initiatives.