Latest update January 30th, 2025 4:38 AM
ERC takes women’s programme to Linden
ERC Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill and two of the participants
A women’s workshop aimed at promoting harmony and good relations was yesterday held at the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition Centre and Conference Hall in Linden, by the Ethnic Relations Commission.
The workshop drew approximately 200 women from areas all across Region 10, including Kwakwani and Bamia.
Ms Yolanda Ward, head of the Public Education and Awareness Unit of the ERC, said that as part of its strategic plan for the year 2009, the ERC has decided to include women as key participants in fulfilling its mandate.
She further pointed out that since women are frequently at the centre of conflicts that are race related, it became necessary for the ERC to involve them in deciding the strategic approaches to achieve racial harmony.
“It is of vital importance to the ERC that women are consulted with, to have their suggestions and recommendations as it relates to improving race related conflicts and fostering ethnic cohesion in our societies.
The ERC therefore anticipates your fullest participation, and will appreciate all suggestions and recommendations that will foster better race relations in society,” Ward concluded.
Already conferences have been held in all the regions except Region 0ne.
Some of the functions of the ERC are to provide equality of opportunity between persons of different ethnic groups, and to promote harmony and good relations between such persons; discourage and prohibit persons, institutions, political parties and associations from indulging in and advocating or promoting racial discrimination, while promoting educational training programmes which provide for and encourage ethnic peace and harmony.
The ERC mandate is also to address complaints of discrimination and make recommendations on the measures to be taken where justifiable.
Where there are valid complaints, such matters are referred to the human rights commission, or other relevant authority for further action.
Persons found guilty of promoting or advocating racial or ethnic violence shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and two years imprisonment and subsequently be deemed incapable of being a member of the national Assembly or any local democratic organ for a period of five years thereafter.
Workshop facilitators said that they were overwhelmed with the response to the workshop from women in Region Ten.
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