UN Human Rights Committee commends Guyana on measures promoting gender equity

…raises questions about Venezuela border controversy

Guyana was praised for implementing various legislative and policy measures to promote gender equality and ensure the equitable representation of women in public and political life.

This compliment was given at the United Nations 140th Session of the Human Rights Committee held in Geneva, Switzerland. On Wednesday, the Committee concluded its consideration of the third periodic report of Guyana on how it implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
During the session, Committee Experts commended measures promoting gender equity, and raised issues concerning the border controversy with Venezuela over the Essequibo territory and alleged corruption regarding oil exploitation permits.
Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira appeared virtually before the Committee and responded to a question on how the State is encouraging the implementation of gender equality provisions in judicial and political decision making.
She informed the Committee that Guyana has made tremendous strides in the field of gender equality. According to the Minister, 39 per cent of Members of Parliament were women with 12 per cent being Indigenous. She added too that females were represented as heads of departments and agencies of the State.
In the Judiciary, Teixeira said there were eight female Judges and 21 female Magistrates. Additionally, over 5000 women had been trained in entrepreneurial skills and some 1000 women had been supported to gain employment and set up businesses.
Moreover, most people in teacher training courses were women while social welfare programmes had been set up to help women access childcare assistance, including day-care services, the Minister indicated.
Teixeira added that the State had one of the highest rates of women who owned property, thanks to support from the State housing programme. In fact, some 85 per cent of housing subsidies went to women.

Border controversy
Meanwhile, during the session, another Committee Expert asked the Guyanese delegation to comment on the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ’s) provisional measures Order of December 1, 2023 and the December 3 referendum regarding the Essequibo territory, questioning whether the country imposed a state of emergency or undertaken other measures in response to the very tense political situation with Venezuela, which is claiming two-thirds of Guyana’s territory as its own.
On the exogenous threat to Guyana, Minister Teixeira informed the Committee that the border boundary between the two States was settled in 1899.  With the Secretary General of the United Nations invoking the Geneva Agreement, Guyana had approached the ICJ to finally determine the controversy in the interest of the protection of the rule of law. A joint commission had been set up that aimed to improve relations between the two countries.
With regard to environmental questions based on Guyana’s oil and gas industry, the Minister declared that Guyana took seriously its responsibility to protect the environment and its rainforests. She noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had implemented increased fines for flaring, and the State party was not aware of allegations of preferential treatment for ExxonMobil, which, along with its co-venturers, is producing oil offshore.
Teixeira added that ExxonMobil had held several open consultations with the public and allegations of there being no consultation with villagers regarding the carbon credit scheme were untrue. Any business operating in an Amerindian community needed to engage with the community council, she noted.
In concluding remarks, Minister Teixeira said the Government was striving to leave no one behind as it transformed the country. It aimed to enhance economic activities and jobs. Rights were critical, and the Constitution and legal framework provided for those rights. The State party had created rights commissions to provide redress for rights violations.
Accompanying Minister Teixeira on the Guyanese delegation before the UN Human Rights Committee were representatives from the Ministries of Health; Home Affairs; Human Services and Social Security; Natural Resources; Amerindian Affairs; and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Guyana Prison Service; Guyana Police Force; Guyana Geology and Mines Commission; Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; and the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Human Rights Committee’s 140th session is being held from March 4 to March 28, 2024.
During the first day of Guyana’s reporting session, controversy arose when United States-nominated candidate, Laurence Helfer, asked about public frustration over the alleged failure on Guyana’s part to investigate reports of corruption against the Vice President, Police Officers, and members of the Judiciary.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has called out the US candidate, saying that his question was not based on any evidence or facts, but was more or less a parroted position peddled by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition.
In response to Helfer’s question during the session, Teixeira had made it clear that there was no formal report made to the Guyana Police Force about allegations of corruption against Jagdeo.
“There is no follow-up, because there was no Police report made by VICE News or anybody else. So, the Police cannot investigate without some form of report or complaint,” Teixeira said at the UN meeting on Monday.
In 2022, United States-based media outlet VICE News aired a feature titled “Guyana for Sale” that contained allegations against Jagdeo, but while it was deemed an “exposé”, it failed to implicate Jagdeo in bribery.
Jagdeo has, on numerous occasions, denied the allegations and has said on several occasions that the documents he submitted to the Integrity Commission could dismantle any corruption allegations against him. (G8)