|
Madame Chairman, It is my privilege and a distinct honour to be here this morning and to make a few remarks on this special occasion. I would like to start by welcoming General Secretary Musimbi Kanyoro, and World Vice-President Monica Zetsche to our Caribbean Region. I hope that you enjoy your visit with us. We live in a very special part of the world, full of many challenges, yes; but full of opportunity as well. We hope you can find the time during this busy week to see this part of Caribbean region here in Guyana, the Headquarters of the Caribbean Community; and perhaps your travels will take you to other parts of the Caribbean as well. If not, I am sure that the representatives who are here from other countries of the Region will delight in telling you about the wonderful countries from which they also come. Back in 1868 – 135 years ago – a group of forward thinking and caring women in Britain recognized the need for an organized response to the concerns of young girls who were migrating to the cities to find jobs. This was at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Women did not yet have the right to vote. The YWCAs of the world today are still at the forefront in responding to the needs of women through health and wellness, education and leadership training, crisis intervention, and advocacy. It is now a global organization with branches in more than 100 countries. I salute the YWCA as a pioneer in the mission to empower women to develop and fulfill our role as leaders and partners in the pursuit of human rights, health, security, dignity, freedom, justice, and peace for all people. In the Caribbean, the contribution of women to the development of our society is immeasurable. I refer not to those few of us who are in visible positions, but to the majority of us whose contribution lie in the fields of commerce, agriculture, the caring professions, the schools, private enterprise, the public service, our households – in every sector – playing an important role in keeping our societies together, and our economies moving. We say that this contribution of women is immeasurable not because we have tried to measure that contribution and found it beyond our capacity – for we have never tried to measure that contribution. We say so because we live it every day. We know. There is a move in the CARICOM Region to measure the value of the “caring” work that is done primarily by women both inside and outside the home. This would be a tangible and welcome recognition of the significance of the largely unacknowledged work that women do. In particular, the unpaid work that women have traditionally done in the home and community would be seen for what it is – essential for the functioning of society and therefore inherently valuable. This would signal a profound change in the perceptions of the role of women generally. But it would not change the fact that even when women achieve the same type and level of education and experience as men, they are still generally paid less for the same work. This devaluation of the work that women do is a critical indicator of the gender inequalities which remain to be overcome. Removing these inequalities requires a major transformation of the way we – women and men – think, and the way society is structured. I believe that this transformation will not take place without addressing the issue of leadership and empowerment. The political arena is still largely considered – by both men and women – to be the domain of men. There continues to be far too few women holding positions of authority and responsibility in government, in the corporate world, in political organisations and in the church. Women therefore seldom play an active role in decision-making process at the highest levels of these critical institutions. There is, therefore, much to be done to encourage and assist women to develop our capacity as leaders in Civil, Business, and Political Society, from the community level to the national level. Organisations such as the YWCA are integral to this process. The “Y’s” are uniquely poised to help meet the evolving needs of women in our quest to earn an income, to influence and to participate in decision and policy-making in the workplace, in our communities and in our countries. Over a century ago, the YWCA responded to the special needs of young women seeking to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the Industrial Revolution. Over the many decades since, the face and the role of the YWCA has changed and expanded with the needs of women. I note with great appreciation, that this training meeting seeks to equip the participating YWCA’s to think more strategically, organize themselves more effectively, and take advantage of the new technologies for learning and information sharing. These skills are critical for the future and I encourage all participants to absorb and use these skills to make positive change not only at the organizational level but at the personal level as well. Women look to the YWCA to seek safety and shelter, to escape abuse, find jobs, launch careers, improve their health, achieve goals, develop leadership skills, teach others, help neighbours and discover new friends. It has its roots in the Christian faith, but today it is enriched by many beliefs and values. The women of the YWCA seek to create opportunities for women’s growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people. I end these few remarks with the hope that we can continue to build on the principles for which the YWCA stands as we seek new ways of empowering women to fulfill our true potential. Please accept my best wishes for a productive training meeting and long lasting friendships to carry back home at the end of the week. I thank you. |
|
Press ReleasesSpeeches
