(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Today, I join with the global community to salute women and girls everywhere, particularly those of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It is well known that it is the women of our Community who have been the bedrock of society and have been agents of change within our societies. In so doing, they have been steadfast in their determination to improve their economic, social, political, cultural and legal status.
This year’s theme “Empower Women – Empowering Humanity” is one which is an aspiration for many, if not all of us. For the realities sometimes blur the vision of a world where each woman and girl can be empowered to exercise her choices, such as participating in politics, getting an education, having an income and living in societies free from violence and discrimination.
We are now twenty years on from that important milestone the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Our governments were among the 189 that signed that historic document which put forward an agenda for realizing, among other things, the achievement of women’s equality. Yet, today, that goal remains elusive.
I applaud the Region’s progress as evidenced by new legislation with respect to the rights of women and children; increased representation of women in government and leadership; attainment of higher levels of education; improved access to health care and reduction in child mortality. However, more action needs to be taken with respect to gender equality in governance; to end wage discrimination; and to stop the continuing gender-based violence that has an impact, not only on the lives of women and girls, but also their families and communities.
Statistics from country reports indicate a troubling level of sexual abuse and human trafficking of the girl child while women continue to be the victims of domestic abuse.
I reiterate our commitment to the proposed Goal 5 of the UN Framework for Sustainable Development: ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”; and to the actions which include “[eliminating] all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation”. I wish to acknowledge the role of UN Women in assisting the Community to engage fully in the discussions on these issues at the global, regional and national levels with respect to, in particular, the Post 2015 Development Agenda and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Agenda.
On this occasion of International Women’s Day 2015, I join the voices across the Region in celebrating our women and girls, those whom we have formally recognized and those many unsung heroines who continue to develop our Caribbean Community. Let us renew our commitment and energy as we map out the path for empowering the women in our Region as an essential ingredient for sustainable development and a vital element in building a Community for All.
