First Lady explores possible partnerships with UN

First Lady Sandra Granger, received a courtesy call from United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Mikiko Tanaka, earlier this week at her office at State House. During that meeting, possible areas of collaboration aimed at addressing issues affecting the welfare of women and girls were discussed.

“We spoke about several issues, gender-based violence, health, women’s

First Lady Sandra Granger is flanked by (from left) UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, MikikoTanaka and UNFPA Resident Representative, Patrice LaFleur
First Lady Sandra Granger is flanked by (from left) UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, MikikoTanaka and UNFPA Resident Representative, Patrice LaFleur

empowerment, education, issues that affect women and girls, both in the rural and urban areas and how we can work together to alleviate these problems if not solve them,” the First Lady said.

Meanwhile, Tanaka, in an invited comment, said that she was keen to discuss some of the social issues, which pose a challenge to society and the strides that are being made to remedy them, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

“Really I was hearing the different perspectives of the social issues affecting women and children in Guyana and what efforts are being made by the First Lady, institutions, people in Guyana, and how the UN system could work together and support the efforts,” she said.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Resident Representative, Patrice LaFleur accompanied Tanaka to the meeting.