Women’s rights have made landmark advancements following two pivotal international events advocating for gender parity and representation in leadership, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, announced in an address recently.

Dr. Ramsammy spoke on the recent call by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for a 50:50 gender representation in decision-making globally, and the Vatican’s historic acknowledgment of women’s leadership roles within the Catholic Church.

At the close of CEDAW’s 89th session in Geneva, Switzerland, the UN body issued General Recommendation 40 (GR40), marking a shift from the Beijing Declaration’s 30 per cent equity goal toward full gender parity across governance and economic systems. GR40 now calls for “equal and inclusive representation” of women in all spheres, from local governance to international forums, reinforcing CEDAW’s mandate for countries to eliminate gender discrimination. As Dr. Ramsammy observed, this change marks “a paradigm shift” that strengthens legal standards and global commitments toward equality.

“This new directive advances women’s representation beyond symbolic benchmarks, calling for actual parity in public, private, and digital spheres,” Ramsammy noted, emphasizing the recommendation’s significance as countries gear up for the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, a critical milestone in the global women’s rights movement. He highlighted that, in international peace and security contexts, where women’s involvement has historically been minimal, this directive could reshape inclusive decision-making processes.

Ramsammy also praised the Vatican’s decision at the 2024 Papal Summit in Rome to allow women in certain leadership roles within the Church. While a “courageous step,” he said, the decision does not yet extend to permitting women to serve as priests, maintaining a stance he described as “timid but promising” in a centuries-old tradition of male-only clergy. However, he noted the significance of including 60 women among the 368 voting delegates, a marked departure from previous summits.

“Even as the Catholic Church upholds certain conservative views, this decision represents a breakthrough in a long-standing hierarchy. It offers hope for continued progress,” Ramsammy stated. He called on the Church to “fully recognize women’s equal right to serve at all levels,” encouraging it to join the broader global movement for gender equity.

Guyana, he noted, has been at the forefront of these efforts, with constitutional amendments ensuring that at least 33 per cent of parliamentary candidates are women, contributing to a current Parliament with 40 per cent female representation. This progress has positioned Guyana ahead of regional averages and is reflected in the nation’s ranking on the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index, where it currently ranks 35th globally with a score of 76.5 per cent.

Looking forward, Ramsammy underscored President Irfaan Ali’s recent commitment to ensuring that women own at least 30 per cent of agricultural businesses in Guyana, positioning the country as a global leader in both the agricultural sector and women’s empowerment.

Dr. Ramsammy concluded by expressing hope that Guyana would champion GR40 in its upcoming constitutional reforms, paving the way for an inclusive future. He reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in ensuring women’s access to agricultural land and resources, stating, “Guyana’s track record proves that equity in all decision-making levels is not only possible but vital to sustainable development.”