The Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) has announced that it intends to pursue an aggressive programme to support gender-based violence victims this year.
Administrator of the GWLI, Ms. Tricia Watson said during the first quarter of 2016 the organization will be pushing a “gender-focused education and training programme for women and men in the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private sector companies in order to promote gender awareness and equity”.
Watson disclosed 
that during the January to March period, the organisation which is an arm of the Ministry of Social Protection also wants to “enable the full participation of women in leadership and decision-making processes throughout society, thereby contributing to the equitable and sustainable development of Guyana.”
According to the Administrator, the first quarter training initiatives will “build and strengthen the capacity of underprivileged and single parent women to ensure they are “equipped to participate in all levels of decision-making processes and influence decisions that affect their lives within their families and at the local and community levels”.
Watson also wants an increased understanding of the ramifications of “gender equality and equity” to be etched within the consciousness and practices of all Guyanese.
Additionally, as part of the 2016 plan there will be a hike in training programmes to boost economic opportunities, income generation and poverty reduction among under-privileged women, Watson promised.
She said too that the GWLI will “develop and implement structured gender-focused education and leadership-training programmes for women” in the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana.
According to Watson, there will also be organised Community Volunteer Training Programmes (CVTPs) to help develop a corps of Guyanese with the requisite skills “to provide support for victims of gender-based violence”.
