Georgetown : The Women Parliamentarians Association has joined with the rest of the world in denouncing the kidnapping of the 300 Nigerian schoolgirls since mid April, by the Islamic Militant terrorist organisation, Boko Haram.
Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford who spoke on behalf of the committee told the National Assembly yesterday that the female Members of Parliament (MPs) have unanimously agreed that this issue would be their first initiative.
“As Guyanese women Members of Parliament, we wish to express our grave concern over the abduction of approximately 300 teenage girls who were abducted from their school on April 15.”
Minister Westford said the committee joins with the government, civil society bodies, and regional and international bodies in reiterating their strong condemnation of all acts of terrorism and crimes against humanity.
The Minister told the House that the committee sees the act as a dastardly one, “Not only is it an abhorrent form of terrorism, but it is a gross violation of the basic human right to education and to the freedom of religion.”
It is to this end the Minister said the committee would support the efforts being made by the Government of Nigeria and the international community to rescue the girls and express the hope for their personal security and for their safe return to their families.
The Women Members of Parliament is an organisation of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian Guyana Branch.
The committee at a meeting held on Monday, May 19, 2014, unanimously agreed to establish a steering Committee. This committee is expected to meet on a monthly basis to consider a number of topical issues that will not be limited to those affecting women and children, but will include social, economical, legislative, political and technological issues among others.
This committee is expected to run for a year and based on its performance will determine the establishment of a Commonwealth Women Parliament Association, Guyana Branch.
Each political party is expected to identify a Member to function as a coordinator who will be tasked with proposing issues for the committee to focus on and coordinating the caucus.
It is also expected that this committee will nurture the working relationship among female MPs on all sides of the National Assembly and function as an avenue for consensus on important issues.
