International Women’s Day message from Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar
Statement by the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
On the occasion of
International Women’s Day 2015
“Empowering Women-Empowering Humanity: Picture It”
Today, March 8th, as women across the world recognize and celebrate International Women’s Day, I give the assurance that I will continue to champion and influence policy and decisions targeted to advance the cause of equity for women and girls.
This year’s commemoration of International Women’s Day comes against the backdrop of the 20th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, that historic roadmap signed by 189 governments in 1995, which sets the agenda for realizing women’s rights.
Twenty years ago, among other issues, the Beijing Declaration sought to bring to the forefront of national agendas matters related to women such as women and poverty; socio-economic inequalities; education and training; women and armed conflict; women in power and decision-making and women and health.
While there have been many achievements since then, many gaps remain. Internationally many women and girls are still faced with the reality of the denial of basic human rights – the inability to obtain or finish their education; inadequate healthcare; little or no sexual rights; forced marriage and horrific crimes of violence perpetrated against them with impunity.
In Trinidad and Tobago our women and girls are fortunate to be able to access educational opportunities and proper healthcare; have the right to own property and earn an income; and are free to participate in politics and decision-making at all levels.
But those opportunities were not made available overnight. Again, I express my gratitude to those women who have cleared the path for us to become leaders and those many civil society organizations who relentlessly advocated for the rights of women and girls. It is because of them that on Sunday we can be proud of our accomplishments as women. It is because of them I can address you all as Trinidad and Tobago’s first female Prime Minister.
However we cannot shy away from the fact that many women and girls locally continue to be victims of violence, domestic abuse and sexual predators.
These are areas which my Government continues to address through improved legislation, our work with NGOs and the setting up of Agencies such as the Children’s Authority to oversee the protection of our children, both girls and boys.
My Government understands that the economic, social and cultural development of our nation depends on our ability to engage the human talent of all our citizens equally.
This is the reality for Trinidad and Tobago. This is the reality for the Caribbean. This is the global reality.
I fully endorse United Nation’s Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon when he stated, “The world will never realize 100 percent of its goals if 50 percent of its people cannot realize their full potential.”
Already here in Trinidad and Tobago, we are a positive example to the world with regard to our achievements in education, with free early childhood to tertiary education for both boys and girls and the accomplishment of universal primary and secondary education.
Nevertheless, there is more work to be done and my Government is determined to take us closer to achieving our goal.
As the Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development, the Honourable Minister De Couteau, revealed at the post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, a National Commission for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equity will be established.
This Commission represents our renewed thrust for increased political participation my women, poverty alleviation, social development and gender-based violence and other related issues.
Additionally, I look forward to the establishment of our “Women City Centres” in Port of Spain and San Fernando. These centres will offer services aimed at educating women on their rights as well as support services in respect of healthcare, entrepreneurial training and domestic violence. I implore my sisters across our nation to make good use of these services so as to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their children.
My dear sisters, on this International Women’s Day 2015, I applaud you on your many achievements. We are formidable force when we work together to demand our rights and to take an equal place beside our brothers.
I encourage our women and men to continue to work together to ensure positive outcomes for the women our country, so that collectively we may ensure the growth and success of our great Nation.
-End-
Communications Unit
Office of the Prime Minister