Human Services Minister calls for greater role for women in global power, resource decisions

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has called for a shift in the global approach to women’s leadership, arguing that women must move beyond representation in decision-making bodies to exercising greater influence over decisions affecting peace, security, economies, and resource allocation.

Persaud made the call on October 5 while addressing the Forum of Women Parliamentarians at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania.
She said women have demonstrated their capacity in peacebuilding and diplomacy, increasingly taking on leadership roles and drawing attention to issues such as justice, inclusion, economic exclusion and other matters that have historically been overlooked.
“The time has come for leadership to be less about inclusion and representation and more about natural progression, without skewed meritocracy, equality and equity in the truest sense,” Persaud said.
She argued that women must have a greater role in decisions concerning global finance and the allocation of resources. She also called on Governments and Parliaments to address digital violence against women and strengthen legislation dealing with issues affecting women as matters of governance and human rights.
Persaud pointed to Guyana’s policies and programmes as examples of how women’s leadership can translate into practical action. Among the measures she highlighted were initiatives addressing equal opportunity in employment, women’s entrepreneurship and unpaid care, including the Care Economy Co-Invest Programme.
She also cited the development of free day and night care and early childhood development centres as part of efforts to address care needs.
The Minister highlighted Guyana’s Ambassador and candidate for United Nations Secretary General, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, as an example of women’s leadership in international diplomacy and peace and security.
Persaud referenced Rodrigues-Birkett’s role as President of the United Nations Security Council during Guyana’s presidency and her advocacy for placing the protection of children affected by war, poverty and underdevelopment at the centre of discussions on peace.
“Her leadership demonstrated that a Guyanese woman can help shape global discussions about peace, and about the conditions people need to live with dignity,” Persaud said.
She challenged parliamentarians to examine the barriers that continue to limit women’s participation in leadership, including their access to global financial resources and key decision-making positions.
Persaud also questioned whether women were increasingly seeing themselves and other women as natural choices for leadership roles.
“Our responsibility, Parliament and bodies like IPU, is to ensure that more women can lead by providing access to education, finance and mentorship, empowering real decision-making authority and working to shift mindsets and remove entrenched barriers,” she said.
She added that the objective must be to open doors that have historically been closed to women and make women’s leadership a norm, rather than treating representation as the ultimate goal.
Persaud is part of a Guyanese parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of the National Assembly and IPU Governing Council Member Manzoor Nadir, which is attending the 153rd IPU Assembly and related meetings in Arusha from October 5 to 9.
The delegation also includes Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Warren Kwame McCoy and Parliamentary Executive Officer Dr Carlleta Charles, who is serving as secretary to the delegation.
Persaud is a member of the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians of the IPU, while McCoy serves as a member of the Bureau of Democracy and Human Rights.
The Assembly is being held under the theme, “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.”
The programme includes meetings of the IPU’s parliamentary bodies, workshops and side events, as well as discussions on the empowerment of persons with disabilities. The Assembly is also expected to adopt a resolution on parliamentary strategies to promote the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
The IPU comprises 184 national parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies and provides a platform for legislators to promote parliamentary democracy, peace and cooperation.