IDPADA-G renews call for Ethnic Disparity Audit, citing international obligations and equity gaps

Jul 20, 2025 News

Kaieteur News – The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly–Guyana (IDPADA-G) has renewed its call for the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to initiate a comprehensive Ethnic Disparity Audit and Rectification process.

The organization emphasized that such an audit is critical for collecting, analyzing, and publishing disaggregated data across sectors such as employment, land access, education, healthcare, contracting, and the justice system. The initiative, IDPADA-G says, aims to support evidence-based policy reform and address persistent inequality faced by Afro-Guyanese communities.

In a statement issued on Friday, IDPADA-G stressed that the proposed audit is not about assigning blame but about seeking truth, fairness, and measurable facts. “Without disaggregated data, policy remains blind and justice remains delayed. – The ERC is mandated to ensure ethnic fairness—this audit is its test of leadership. – The time is now: Emancipation must be matched by action, not just commemoration,” IDPADA-G stated.

Additionally, surveys conducted by the organization have revealed, “ widespread experiences of marginalization and unequal access to public opportunities among African Guyanese, “ the statement read. The concerns the organization highlighted includes underrepresentation in public sector jobs, exclusion from land and housing allocations, limited access to financing, and unfair treatment by law enforcement. “This audit would provide concrete data to investigate and address these patterns systematically,” IDPADA-G noted.

The organization is urging the ERC and the government , civil society, and international partners to publicly support the audit. “Public support is key. The time for inaction has passed,” the statement read,.

IDPADA-G also outlined the government of Guyana’s obligations under several international treaties and frameworks that support the call for an audit. These include the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process under the UN Human Rights Council. The organization warned that failure to act could damage Guyana’s international reputation, reduce donor confidence, and invite external scrutiny.

As a signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Guyana is also required to reduce inequality (Goal 10), ensure inclusive decision-making (Goal 16.7), and improve its capacity to collect data disaggregated by ethnicity (Target 17.18). IDPADA-G stated that an ethnic disparity audit would align the country with SDG targets and meet growing donor expectations for data-driven development metrics.

Furthermore, the organization pointed to Guyana’s commitments under the Inter-American Convention against Racism, which calls for the development of ethnic indicators and policies to ensure equal access to services. Continued inaction, they warned, could limit Guyana’s influence in regional partnerships under the Organization of American States (OAS) and potentially lead to petitions before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

International donors including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), European Union (EU), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are increasingly requiring equity assessments, non-discrimination reporting, and inclusive development practices as conditions for funding.

“Without proactive data collection and reform, Guyana could face decreased access to international development financing, technical assistance, and program partnerships,” the organization cautioned.

“Non-participation in the Ethnic Disparity Audit is not just a missed opportunity for fairness—it is a breach of international norms, a reputational risk to Guyana’s human rights standing, and a red flag for responsible donors and partners,” IDPADA-G concluded.

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Equity gaps, Ethnic Disparity Audit, Ethnic Relations Commission, IDPADA-G

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