GUYANA’S recent presentation at the 24th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII24) is more than diplomatic advancement; it is a testament to the country’s progressive, results-driven approach to Indigenous women’s rights and development.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai’s address was not just a celebration of milestones, but also a clarion call for sustained political will, resource allocation and societal transformation.
The statistics are staggering. Thirty years ago, Indigenous women were virtually invisible in Guyana’s Parliament.

Today, they make up 39% of women parliamentarians, and three have served as head of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs—a shift in representation that is also evident in village councils, where Indigenous women are making gains as toshaos and senior councillors.
This heightened political visibility is not coincidental; it is the product of deliberate government policies and calculated investments.

Guyana’s strategy is comprehensive. Economic-empowerment initiatives, especially in agriculture, eco-tourism and traditional industries, have resulted in 63% of young businesspeople being Indigenous women.
Educational reforms—free university, technical training and full scholarships—are breaking cycles of exclusion over generations.

Gains in health, including telemedicine and expanded cancer screening, are extending to remote villages, while 91 per cent of Indigenous villages have clean drinking water, with universal coverage in reach.
But the government’s commitment extends beyond infrastructure.

The recent signing of the Family Violence Act and implementation of gender-based, violence- prevention programmes show an awareness that empowerment cannot occur without both opportunity and protection.
Programmes such as the ENGAGE Youth programme and the EQUAL SRHR programme aim not only at economic and educational advancement, but also at justice, health, and the eradication of violence against Indigenous women and girls.
These are supplemented by private-sector action under the Women’s Empowerment Principles, suggesting a whole-of-society effort towards gender equality.

Of course, there are still challenges. Structural impediments—such as restricted internet access in hinterland areas, under-funded commissions, and lingering social biases—still impede some Indigenous women’s full participation in national life.
But Guyana’s model is clear: change is possible where political rhetoric is matched by concrete action and measurable outcomes.

The world needs to take notice. Guyana is not only implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it is also creating a regional model of development that is inclusive.

By placing Indigenous women at the centre of its national agenda, Guyana demonstrates that the path to sustainable development, social justice and national unity goes through the empowerment of its most marginalised citizens.
This is not only sound policy—it is also a model for the future.