Guyana chronicle 08 03 14

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 8, 2014

On the occasion of International Women’s Day…

Message from CARICOM Secretary General THE Secretariat is honoured and privileged to salute the women and girls of the Caribbean Community on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2014. This year’s United Nation’s theme ‘Equality for Women is Progress for All’, is one that we can all embrace as we examine our progress toward meeting the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and, in particular, Goals 3 and 5 relating to gender equality and maternal health respectively. On this Day, we unite to celebrate the empowerment of women and advancements made toward gender equality. We also reflect on the gaps to be filled to achieve our regional vision – a Caribbean Community where all citizens actively participate in and benefit equally from the economic growth and sustainable development of our countries. This achievement is very much a collective task, and effective change can only be realised when women are equal players in the governance of our Region. If we limit the potential of some, we limit the benefits to all.

The women of our Community have shown great courage and strength as catalysts for change in the pursuit of justice, equality and peace. CARICOM Member States have responded by ratifying international conventions and making national and regional commitments to fulfil their obligations. This has been most marked in the areas of legislation and policy, increased participation of women in the labour market and improved access to public resources such as tertiary education and health care. With the upcoming conclusion of the MDG Framework in 2015, it is a critical time to increase efforts toward the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment. We recognise that there have been both challenges and achievements in the implementation of MDG measures, particularly for women and girls. This is to be expected as we strive to accomplish the aims of the new international agenda to tackle the causes of poverty, exclusion and inequality to “leave no one behind”. In our Region, economic

circumstances and, in particular, persistent and acute poverty and inequalities have continued to render women and girls vulnerable to violence. Without responsive social protection programmes, women can be trapped in violent home situations that are increasingly threatening to their personal security, and that of their children. In addition, sexual violence magnifies their risk of early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and negatively impacts on their physical and emotional health. As the Community plots a path towards economic growth and sustainable development for the Region, the eradication of poverty is viewed as a central objective. A people-centred approach has been articulated to promote the welfare and well-being of people; contribute to social inclusion, gender equality and the empowerment of women. Special efforts need to be increased to involve young women in leadership and decision-making roles to gain experience and confidence so they can, in due course, aspire

Women Key to Peace and Security By United States Ambassador to Guyana D. Brent Hardt

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is more than a moment marked on a calendar. It is a day not just to renew our determination to make the world a more peaceful and prosperous place -- but to recognize that a world where opportunities for women grow is a world where the possibilities for peace, prosperity, and stability grow even more. Countries that value and empower women to participate fully in decision-making are more stable, prosperous, and secure. The Obama Administration has made advancing the status of women and girls a central element of U.S. foreign policy, and the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown will continue to reach out to the Guyanese community to support and recognize women who are making a difference. In its early years, International Women’s Day honored the women’s rights movement, including advocating for the right to vote and hold public office, and for ending discrimination in the workplace. Efforts to ensure equal rights and access for women have achieved notable success. Throughout the world, more girls are in school today. More women are in the workforce. More women serve in public office. And more countries have passed laws recognizing and ensuring women’s equality. Despite this progress, the struggle continues. Women are still more

likely to be among the world’s poorest, most prone to sickness, and most likely to be lacking in nutrition. Today, International Women’s Day is observed as a time to reflect on progress, to advocate for even more change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have made a difference in their communities and countries. This year’s Department of State theme is “Women, Peace, and Security,” and women in Guyana, and throughout the world, have worked diligently to achieve these noble goals. The Department of State has multiple and wide-ranging global initiatives to protect women and girls from violence, promote women’s social and economic development, and enhance women’s full participation in civic and political life. Our Embassy is dedicated to supporting the development and empowerment of women and girls in Guyana. Through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief, pregnant HIV positive mothers are assured to know their status and receive necessary preventative care so as to prevent infecting their unborn babies. The Embassy continues to send women and girls from Guyana to the United States for special exchange programmes so that they can network with other women and girls and develop their leadership and professional skills. Some of our exchange programmes of the past include themes such as: Women’s Leadership and Political Participation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, Women’s

Entrepreneurship, and Women’s Empowerment. To date, our Youth Ambassadors Programme has sent 15 girls to the United States for a leadership and service development programme, and we continue to send women to be active participants in our International Visitor Leadership Programme. The U.S. Embassy has also helped to establish shelters for victims of domestic violence and our youth programmes have helped young women, and men, to develop skills that strengthen their qualifications for better economic opportunities. Last year, the Embassy hosted a Women’s History Month film series with themes focusing on women’s empowerment; many of the films were also directed by women. Peace Corps Guyana sponsored Camp G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) in August -- a camp with activities focused on teamwork, building self-esteem, goal-setting, decision-making, and creating healthy relationships and lifestyles. It was an extraordinary event that helped to foster self-esteem and build support networks for Guyanese girls and young women. No country can succeed unless every citizen is empowered to contribute to its future. So today, we mark the miles women have traveled around the world -- but more importantly we commit to working together with members of the Guyanese public and private sectors to continue on the journey.

to and gain political office. At present within the Community, women’s participation in Parliaments continues to be less than optimal, falling short of the target of 30 per cent. Women have an important contribution to make not only in Parliament but as movers of skills, knowledge and capital across the Region, using the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) to expand opportunities and secure a better quality of life. But the principles of equity and access can only be achieved if the arrangements are respected and applied fairly and without favour. Particularly important for women and children is the strengthening of the legal and institution-

al environment to ensure contingent rights which will ensure unimpeded access to education, health and other social services. This year we will be bestowing the Eleventh CARICOM Triennial Award to an outstanding CARICOM woman whose work has made a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the Caribbean. This Award has been granted to ten exceptional recipients to date, most recently in 2011 to Professor Violet Eudine Barriteau, born in Grenada and a citizen of Barbados. On this International Women’s Day we join others around the world to inspire change for a more just and equal society. As a Region, let

AMBASSADOR IRWIN LAROCQUE us support the Gender Equality Machineries and increase accountability as we translate the commitments by our Member States under the Millennium Development Goals and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women into meaningful change for equality, peace and sustainable development for all. Happy International Women’s Day!


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