Govt record 63% of women accessing social assistance programmes

Dr Cona Husbands, Manager of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, announced a 63 per cent increase in access to social assistance support in Guyana. This milestone comes ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). She attributed the increase to the proactive and well-crafted programmes implemented by the Guyana Government. Dr Husbands made this statement during the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters.

“In Guyana, 63 per cent of women have increased access to social assistance programmes because our Government has been creating proactive, gender-responsive programmes that are accessible and ensure that women and girls in rural areas receive the support they need in today’s world of overlapping crises. Especially in social protection, changes must be resilient and adaptable to meet the needs of women who are affected,” she said.
She then lent her perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that while Guyanese were affected, the Government saw the need to fill the gap for those in need by providing them with funds to support their needs.
She called on the UN to ensure that social protection strategies are impactful. According to Dr Husbands, the Ministry swiftly responded by introducing emergency relief packages, including direct cash transfers and food assistance, to support vulnerable women and children. She emphasised the importance of flexible social protection services that can adapt to evolving needs and ensure continuous support.
“Key stakeholders, including the UN and Governments, must work together to ensure that social protection service systems are impactful. In Guyana, the Government is partnering with civil society organisations to conduct community outreach and awareness campaigns, ensuring that women and girls are aware of their right to social protection and how to access these services. The Government is also introducing measures to streamline service delivery and ensure that women in remote and rural areas are not excluded from critical support. An example is the direct cash transfer, which benefits all of our citizens.”