About

Who we are?

The Women and Gender Equality Commission was established under section 212Q of the Constitution of Guyana and is tasked with supporting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Vision

An environment where the rights of women are recognized as human rights and gender equality is upheld.

Mission

  • Promote gender mainstreaming in all policies and programs.
  • Educate women and men on the benefits of gender equality and ending gender-based violence.
  • Recommend, with the use of evidence-based data, timely policy, and legislative initiatives to uphold women’s rights and gender equality.
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming within the society.

Mandate

Evaluate any system of personal family law, customs and practices or any law likely to affect gender equality or the status of women and make recommendations to the National Assembly.

Functions

  • promote issues related to the enhancement of the status of women, girls and gender issues;
  • promote the integration of women’s needs and interests and mainstreaming of gender issues;
  • promote the empowerment of women;
  • promote women’s rights as human rights;
  • raise awareness of the contribution of women and problems faced by women, including the recognition and value of unwaged work;
  • promote women’s needs, interests and concerns in the wider spectrum of economic and social development and address both the practical and strategic needs of women as being different from those of men;
  • educate and monitor employers and the public on desirable employment practices in relation to women;
  • monitor compliance and make recommendations for compliance with international instruments to which the Government accedes to from time to time, including those already acceded to and which relate to the purpose of the Commission;
  • evaluate any system of personal and family law, customs or practices or any law likely to affect gender equality or the status of women and make recommendations to the National Assembly with regard thereto;
  • recommend and promote the implementation of legislation and the formulation of policies and measures so as to enhance and protect the status of women;
  • promote, initiate or cause to be carried out research and the creation of databases on women and gender related issues including those of health, especially reproductive health, violence against women and the family, and their socio-economic and political status as the Commission may deem relevant or may be referred to it by the National Assembly;
  • promote consultation and cooperation with women’s organisations in relation to decision-making that affects the lives of women;
  • recommend training and technical assistance to support initiatives by and for women and girls; and
  • promote the participation of women in national decision-making.


Recommend

The implementation of legislation and the formulation of policies and measures so as to enhance and protect the status of women.


Support

Sixteen (16) Commissioners and administrative staff to ensure the smooth functioning of the Women and Gender Equality Commission.


Promote

National recognition and acceptance that women’s rights are human rights, respect for gender equality and it’s protection, development and attainment.

Our Commissioners

Our sixteen (16) Commissioners represent a diverse cross-section of Guyana and are broadly representative of the community we serve.

We Always Fight For Human Equality

“We’ve begun to raise daughters more like sons… but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters.”

Indranie Chandarpal
Chairperson

Women’s Progressive Organisation

Cheryl Sampson

Deputy Chairperson
National Congress of Women

Vanda Radzik

Commissioner
Women in Voluntary Work

Shalimar Ali-Hack

Commissioner
Women in Voluntary Work

Karen Vanslytman Corbin

Commissioner
TUC – Women Advisory Council

Gillian Burton

Commissioner
Labour Union

Gaietrie Baron

Commissioner
Labour Union

Ernestine Barker Logan

Commissioner
Regional Women’s Affairs Committee

Nandranie Coonjah

Commissioner
Regional Women’s Affairs Committee

Bebbi Haliema Khan

Commissioner
Regional Women’s Affairs Committee

Nicole Cole

Commissioner
Culture/Ethnic

Peter Persaud

Commissioner (dec’d)
Culture/Ethnic

Debra Henry

Commissioner
Professional Bodies

Hymattie Lagan

Commissioner
Women’s Affairs Bureau

Sandra Hooper

Commissioner
Rights of the Child Commission

Patricia Singh

Commissioner
Indigenous People’s Commission

Our Staff

Renata Chuck-A-Sang

Chief Executive Officer/ Board Secretary

Sasha Dhanraj

Planning and Research Officer

Rhea Loo

Administrative Assistant

Akeem Thompson

Driver/ Logistics Assistant