Enabling environment necessary for women to effectively participate in decision-making – Min. Vindhya Persaud

“There must be an enabling environment for women to achieve full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, with men as equal partners.” – Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security

Statement by Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security on behalf of CARICOM on the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

I am honoured to speak today on behalf of the 14 Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

I assure you and the members of the Bureau of CARICOM’s full support and cooperation in the execution of the Commission’s work.  

The annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women provides us with an opportunity to review progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and renew our shared commitments to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. We are now in the decade of action to deliver the sustainable development goals and it is imperative that introspection is followed by action.

It is a travesty that 25 years after Beijing, no country has achieved gender parity. This year’s theme of “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence” is timely. Both elements are critical to achieving gender equality and the sustainable development goals.

Women are playing an essential role in the socio-economic and political development of the CARICOM region and can be found in leadership positions in every sphere of influence including politics, public services, business and in civil society. There is, however, still much work to be done.

The UN Secretary General’s report, released in 2020, highlights that, worldwide, women are still underrepresented in public life and decision-making. Less than 7 per cent of Heads of State are women and while the proportion of women in parliament has doubled globally, since 1995, men still hold 75 per cent of seats.

Read more at: Department of Public Information

Source: CARICOM TODAY