MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud has highlighted key strides in gender equality, women’s empowerment and social protection at the Ministerial Round Table talk at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, New York, USA, earlier this week.

The minister is currently participating in the Sixth Plenary Meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women at its 69th session, from March 10 to March 21, 2025 at the UN.

In her powerful delivery, the minister said that Guyana’s Constitution, robust legislation, and national mechanisms foster gender equality and empowerment, which in turn, positions women to shape their own futures, break barriers, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.

“In Guyana, women are not only partners, but they lead the charge in the development of transformative policies, legislation, and inclusive, accessible programmes in health, education, ICT, food, economic and climate security, and socioeconomic empowerment,” Minister Persaud stated.

According to the minister, Guyana’s national mechanism comprises of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, the Gender Affairs Bureau, and a robust collaborative network of State and civil society stakeholders. This, she said, is inclusive of grassroots women organisations.

“The work of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Gender Affairs Bureau, encountering negative stereotypes, promoting gender mainstreaming, and initiating a national shared responsibilities campaign, has been significant in catalyzing and narrowing the gender divide,” the minister added.

Amidst this, Minister Persaud said the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute has been pivotal in the creation of avenues for free and diverse technical vocational training, education, entrepreneurial opportunities, and leadership development, targeting women across all the regions of Guyana.
It was said that through gender-responsive budgetting, Guyana is integrating a gender perspective into budget processes across all sectors, including towards sustainable national programmes to eradicate violence against women and girls, and women’s economic empowerment.

“Currently, there are 39 per cent of women in Parliament, and over 50 per cent of judicial officers are women. Guyana’s commitment to ensuring that women are integral to national decision-making illustrates the political will to achieve parity and equality,” Minister Persaud noted.

She added that the Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state of gender parity across four key dimensions. These are economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. In 2024, Guyana ranked 35th on the list in recognition of significant strides.

“This is not just about ticking boxes; it’s about creating a society where gender equality is not a goal to aspire to, but a reality that empowers women and girls to contribute to national progress and their own development,” the minister expressed.

According to UN Women, the 69th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) is a milestone moment for women’s rights and is the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment to review the progress made on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which remains the most revolutionary plan on gender equality to date.

Adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, the Plan sets the stage for equal rights for all women and girls.

Today, the world is more equal for women and girls than ever before, as women have fought for (and won), the right to vote, work, and lead. More girls are enrolled in school than at any time in history, and more countries criminalise domestic violence.

The UN said that before 1995, only 12 countries had legal sanctions against them.