MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster and Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who is an avid women’s rights activist, yesterday addressed a gathering during the CEDAW annual meeting at Church Center, United Nations in New York.
The Guyana Government has been adamant in ensuring that all forms of discrimination against women in society are eliminated, since ratifying the convention on July 17, 1980.
The implementation of the Convention is monitored by a 23-member Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The meeting, which will run from July 9-27, 2012 will see the Guyana delegation submitting its National Report which indicates what measures have been adopted and implemented by government, to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.
During the session, Government representatives are questioned on the content of the report which is submitted, while additional recommendations made will be explored.
Minister Webster is expected to make an address, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA). Prior to this, she expressed Guyana’s pleasure at participating in the 52nd session of CEDAW which reviews the country’s seventh and eighth reports submitted.
“Guyana re-affirms its commitment to the implementation of the CEDAW and the advancement of women’s rights and the attainment of true equality for women in our country,” she said.
Meanwhile, Minister Manickchand stated that the opportunity will allow Guyana to share with the rest of the world its experiences and successes in the area, noting that, “even as we hear from other countries how they have been addressing challenges and obstacles to fully implementing the Convention…some of which are shared by Guyana.”
Also attending the Convention is Troy Torrington, Charge d’ Affaires, Guyana Permanent Mission, United Nations; and Bibi Ally and Shiraz Mohammed, First and Second Secretary respectively, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Convention on the elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 18, 1979. It was entered into force as an initial treaty in September 1981, after the twentieth country had ratified it.
Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/2012/07/10/guyana-submits-national-report-to-cedaw-on-countrys-success-to-purge-discrimination-against-women