-by Shamiah Grant

Young women from across Guyana gathered at the Public Buildings today for the fourth National Assembly of Girls, an initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of female leaders and encouraging greater participation in governance.

During the opening session of the sitting, Prime Minister of the Assembly, Kyra Adams, highlighted the significance of International Women’s Day, noting that the observance goes beyond symbolic colours to recognise the global social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

She said the day also serves as a call to action to confront inequality and accelerate progress for women and girls worldwide.

“And this day is not just about flowers, or purple outfits, international women’s day is a global recognition of the social economic, cultural, and political achievement of women but it is also a call to action, it’s a call to confront inequality, it’s a call to accelerate progress,” Adams said.

Opposition Leader of the Assembly, Kyla Fraser, also reflected on the contributions of trailblazing Guyanese women.

“In Guyana we honor Janet Jagan who shattered the glass ceiling and became our first female President, we recognized justice desiree Robert whose excellence in the legal field extended way beyond our shores in the Caribbean court of justice, we remember Viola Burnham whose dedication to education and national development strengthen generation,” Fraser told the Assembly of Girls.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, urged the young participants to use the experience as a steppingstone for their future leadership.

“By empowering girls and young women, [and] building an understanding of Guyana’s parliamentary and government architecture, [we are] creating opportunities for you to meet and network with women and men of the national assembly and strengthen critical areas so you can be equip not only to participate but to lead,” Minister Walrond said.

The young parliamentarians also debated a motion to revise the Cybercrime Act to make it more gender-responsive to the vulnerabilities of women and girls online.