Women need to push for equality

Political accountability for women begins with an increase in the number of women in decision-making positions. It is a fact that wherever women’s voices are heard, policies will better reflect their concerns. The many concerns which affect their lives such as, ‘equal pay for equal work’; reproductive rights, gender equality, gender based violence and rape, are more likely to be better heard, expressed and dealt with by women working with men to formulate policy, parliamentary process and law. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between women’s empowerment and the growth of national GDP. How can we not afford to give women, and men equal participation in the building of stable and peaceful societies? Today, there are 21 women representatives in the National Assembly however; there are more than 200,000 women outside the National Assembly who do not subscribe to any form of abuse by any person in our society. This view permeates every class, colour, and age group and does not vindicate those who would use their status, office, or wealth to abuse our women. Today, women have broken the gender barriers which once existed within the labour market. We have shown that we can hold positions at every stratum, be it at an executive level, in the laboratory or in the factory. Notwithstanding our achievements, there is a growing concern that work is equal, but pay is not. This behaviour is more prevalent in the private sector and we must guard against it and stamp it out whenever and wherever it is found. This undoubtedly calls for more women to get involved in the Trade Union Movement. Women must not see themselves merely as benchwarmers but must seek to run for higher office within these organizations. With women in leadership positions in our Trade Unions, equal work will equal pay and the resurgence of sexual harassment in the workplace will be more adequately addressed. The time has come for a more radical step to be made on Domestic Abuse and all other forms of abuse. No more stamp it out, and no more black and blue. I call on this Government to get radical and address this scourge in our land. Today, it is without reserve that I call for those in our midst who believe they can abuse other persons go to jail and spend time on tax payers’ money. Guyanese, irrespective of where they reside would have heard about the campaign to stop all forms of violence in our society, especially Domestic Violence. Every organization: religious, social and educational, have spoken out against violence. Yet this reckless behavior continues unabated in our society. The time has come now for us to address this issue in a comprehensive manner taking into account modern social work intervention techniques, including, counseling by trained professionals. Sooner rather than later, some organization will report negatively on Guyana’s continued breach of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 182. The Laws of Guyana provide that no child under 15 years must be employed and that persons 15 to 18 years can work, however, this work must not be injurious to the health and safety of the worker. Today as you traverse the streets of Georgetown and those areas where there is a high degree of economic activity, you would observe a great number of children who ought to be in school working as shop attendants, porters, vendors, with entertainment bands, restaurants and on construction sites to name a few. The depressing reality is that in most instances the parents or guardians are well aware of the child’s working life and benefit from the rewards. Apart from breaching the Conventions, many of these children become uncontrollable and find themselves in conflict with the law, bringing undue pressure to the already choked social system. While it is the belief that no representative of the Parliament would condone such infringement on the Rights of the Child, it does not in any way release them from taking action whenever they come into contact with such situations. The Ministers responsible for both Human Services and Education must act to remedy this situation.