See full statement from the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC):
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Guyana’s constitutional body established to promote ethnic harmony and inclusion, has reported transformative progress over the past two years, directly 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬, strengthening institutions, and building bridges of understanding across all regions.
From school outreaches and national campaigns to international partnerships and technology-driven reforms, the ERC continues to deliver tangible results that foster peace, unity, and mutual respect in Guyana’s diverse society.
𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬
Between 2023 and 2025, the ERC engaged 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 through its ongoing School engagements and Back-to-School Programmes. These interactive sessions promoted respect, tolerance, and cooperation among Guyana’s youth while addressing issues such as bullying and xenophobia.
Educational materials, including posters, storybooks, and colouring tools, were distributed to reinforce the principles of inclusion and diversity, helping to shape the next generation of citizens committed to fostering harmony and national unity.
𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐑𝐂 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛
The ERC has partnered with the Ministry of Education to launch Harmony Clubs within schools. These Clubs are designed to provide students with a supportive space to learn about respect, diversity, empathy, and peaceful problem-solving through guided activities and cultural exploration. The first pilot Club was launched at Stella Maris Primary, with additional pilot phases underway at North Georgetown Secondary, Comenius Primary, St. Gabriel’s Primary, and St. Ambrose Primary. This initiative encourages young people to become ambassadors of harmony within their schools and communities, helping to nurture a future generation that embraces tolerance and diversity.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
In 2023 and 2025 the ERC coordinated the Code of Conduct Signing Ceremonies for Local Government and General/Regional Elections, respectively at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, canvassing political parties under a shared commitment to ethical campaigning and the prevention of hate speech and racial incitement.
For the Local Government Elections 2023, the ERC also deployed 60 election observers across five regions, covering over 250 polling stations. Its findings confirmed the elections were free, fair, and peaceful, underscoring the ERC’s role in safeguarding democracy and social cohesion.
Building on this foundation, the ERC successfully executed its largest observation mission to date during the 2025 General and Regional Elections. The ERC deployed 160 Observers across the country and conducted campaign monitoring in 9 Regions.
This national presence was complemented by a comprehensive media and public awareness campaign that spanned television, radio, print, and ERC’s social media platforms. The campaign promoted messages of peace, respect, tolerance, and national unity, reminding citizens of the importance of maintaining harmony during the electoral process, which contributed meaningfully to fostering a climate of calm, restraint, and mutual respect during the electoral period.
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
The ERC’s Investigative Unit processed over 160 complaints between March 2023 and February 2025, addressing issues such as discrimination, workplace bias, and hate speech.
Simultaneously, the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) handled 448 media cases, issuing 267 cautionary statements to curb racial, xenophobic, and religiously intolerant content. These interventions underscore the ERC’s commitment to accountability and the promotion of responsible communication in both traditional and digital media.
𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
In a landmark move, the ERC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in October 2024 to introduce AI-driven ‘E-Monitor+’ software, a first in the region. This innovation will enhance the Commission’s ability to identify and counter hate speech and misinformation online.
𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡: 𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
In collaboration with UN Guyana, the ERC launched the Countering Hate Speech Campaign on June 18, 2024, coinciding with the UN’s International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
Workshops targeting youth organizations, journalists, social media influencers, and disc jockeys have since been conducted to promote respectful communication and reduce divisive rhetoric. The campaign has gained nationwide traction through social media, schools, and community outreach.
𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
The ERC conducted over 20 stakeholder and community engagements across Regions 1–10, bringing its services directly to citizens. Participation in major events, such as GuyExpo, Building Expo, the National Toshaos Council Conference, Christmas Toy Drive, Diwali Jalsa, Ramadan Village, and the Human Rights Expo, connected the ERC with thousands of Guyanese, broadening awareness of its constitutional role and complaint mechanisms.
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
The Commission designed and launched its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Training Programme, reaching 210 professionals across public institutions, private sector entities, and civil society groups, which further strengthened institutional integrity and public trust in the ERC’s operations.
𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬
The ERC also launched a Public Diversity Library in 2024, expanding access to literature that celebrates Guyana’s multicultural heritage, such as Emancipation and Heritage Celebrations. Additionally, the ERC participated in key interfaith events, including the Christmas Toy Drive, Ramadan Village and Diwali Jalsa, to deepen interreligious understanding.
Through its Harmony League T-10 Cricket Tournament, the ERC Jingle Competition, and festive initiatives such as Christmas Toy Drives in Regions 1, 7, and 10, the Commission used creativity and compassion to promote togetherness and goodwill.
𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
Over the period, the ERC enhanced collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, Rotary Club of Georgetown, Ministry of Education, UNHCR/IOM, and other partners. A joint Working Group with the GPF was established to improve coordination on hate crime investigations and case resolution, a milestone in law enforcement cooperation.
ERC’s Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to inclusivity, “The ERC’s progress reflects dedication and partnership. We are not merely responding to issues of ethnicity and discrimination; we are proactively building bridges of understanding, guided by the principle that unity and diversity are the twin pillars of Guyana’s strength.”
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐑𝐂
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is a constitutional body established under Article 212D of the Constitution of Guyana. It is mandated to promote harmony and good relations among all ethnic groups, through monitoring, public education and awareness, and investigating complaints of ethnic discrimination.
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