As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Women and Gender Equality Commissioner, Nicole Cole issued what can be described as a scathing indictment of the State’s response to gender-based violence, highlighting the ongoing “murdering of women yearly” as a breach of international convention.
Cole argued that the government’s failure to effectively shield women and girls from Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and sexual violence constitutes a breach of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
“It’s femicide,” Cole stated bluntly. “If men were being killed just as equally as women, there would have been more action from the Executive since it’s patriarchal.”
The Commissioner further critiqued the current landscape of female leadership in the country, describing many in high-ranking positions as “impotent” and unable or unwilling to drive the necessary systemic changes to protect the vulnerable.
At the heart of Cole’s critique is a “woeful” disparity in resource allocation. She pointed to the $900 million (GYD) allocated to the “Men on Mission” (M.O.M.) initiative in the 2026 budget, suggesting that the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) and the Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) require similar financial backing to be effective.
“Money matters,” Cole emphasized, noting that reaching Guyana’s hinterland communities is a logistically difficult and expensive endeavor. She highlighted a recent plea from the Toshao of Waramadong in the Upper Mazaruni for consistent services, noting that current budgets often only allow for “one-off” visits.
“Basket cannot fetch water! More can be done with a larger budget,” she remarked, highlighting the impossibility of fulfilling a broad mandate with restricted funds.
Turning her attention to law enforcement, Commissioner Cole described the current state of police protection as being at its “lowest nadir.” She cited the disappearance and death of young Adriana Younge in April 2025 as a “glaring example” of institutional negligence.
Cole raised questions regarding the initial police response at the hotel where the child went missing:
“Why didn’t the Police shut down the entire hotel immediately to search for the missing child?”
“Where were the cadaver dogs on April 23, 2025?”
Cole alleged that a senior officer provided false information regarding the child’s whereabouts, a move she claims showed a total “disregard for Adriana’s right to life.”
The Commissioner concluded her remarks with a vote of no confidence in the Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA). “I have lost all confidence in CCPA to protect children in Guyana under the current leadership,” she stated.
As International Women’s Day events continue across the capital, for Cole and many advocates, the fight for equality is not just about celebration, but about the fundamental right to safety and the state’s accountability in providing it.
