Georgetown: A gender focal network was recently established within the Ministry of Social Protection to foster the implementation of the National Gender and Social Inclusion policy.
Work has been ongoing to prepare for the implementation of this plan which aims to mainstream gender issues into all sectors, thereby eliminating all negative economic, social and cultural practices that hinder equality and equity.
Director of the Gender Affairs Bureau Adel Lily explained the unit was established “to review the existing projects in all of the programmes in the Ministry and to make sure those programmes are gender mainstreamed, possess a gender lens and to look at gender budgeting.”
Lily said through capacity building and public outreaches persons are becoming more open to having discussions, “Once persons are educated on the difference between gender and sexuality, they are more open to gender equality and equity.”
The Director explained that sex is how you were born, so you born male or female based on your sexual organ but gender is socially constructed; gender is your sex plus your identity and your expression so a person’s gender is fluid while their sex is constant.”
Training sessions have been conducted with members of the regional gender affairs committee, members of the inter-committee on gender in Region Seven and Four and they will be heading to Regions Three, and Six soon.
The National Gender and Social Inclusion Policy which will be implemented by year-end. Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally has reiterated that such a policy will bring Guyana one step closer to number 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 5 is to have equality and suggested that there be a policy to counter deeply rooted gender-based discrimination.
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