THE Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance on Wednesday concluded the second cycle of its International Human Rights Law Certificate Course (IHRLCC), graduating 280 of the 300 enrolled participants at a closing ceremony held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
The programme, launched earlier this year at the Royal International Hotel, aims to strengthen public understanding of constitutional rights, treaty obligations, and governance structures ahead of Human Rights Day, observed globally on December 10.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, addressing attendees, said the training forms part of the ministry’s efforts to improve human rights awareness and anti-corruption readiness across Guyana.
She noted that the ministry, despite its small staff, implemented the entire programme using local expertise and government funding.
Teixeira said the initiative was introduced after the ministry identified widespread gaps in public understanding of human rights and Guyana’s legal obligations under international conventions.
She added that misconceptions circulating on social media underscored the need for accurate, accessible information.
The minister reported that demand for the course remained high for the second year, with applicants representing all ten administrative regions and varied sectors, including the security services, public sector, private sector, and civil society. Women formed the majority of participants. She said that Online delivery allowed persons in remote hinterland communities to complete coursework and assessments.
Teixeira said the ministry plans to consider institutionalising the programme by 2026 to reduce reliance on a small administrative team. The course also explored emerging issues such as privacy, surveillance, artificial intelligence, discrimination, climate change, and food security.
Senior Research Officer and programme coordinator Anil Persaud said the ministry received roughly 1,000 applications for the 2024 cohort, but capacity constraints allowed only 300 to be enrolled.
He said two Jamaican government officers also joined the course after invitations were extended to CARICOM member states.

Persaud reported strong academic performance, with 275 of the 280 graduates scoring above 50 per cent on the final assessment, and most attaining between 70 and 90 per cent.
He said participant feedback indicated that many intended to apply the concepts learned in their professions, homes, and communities.
He added that the ministry intends to expand the course in the future, potentially through additional modules tailored to specialised groups, and hopes that graduates will remain engaged in upcoming consultations and policy initiatives.
The IHRLCC is one of several human rights and governance awareness initiatives executed by the ministry, alongside exhibitions, quizzes, and public outreach activities.