Message from Ambassador Irwin LaRocque – Secretary-General, Caribbean Community on the Occasion of International Women’s Day, Sunday, 8 March 2020

It is a distinct honour and pleasure for me to celebrate International Women’s Day with our women and girls across the Community. The Day affords us the opportunity to reflect on gender equality and the advancement of women as important components of this year’s United Nation’s theme: “I Am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”.

It is a distinct honour and pleasure for me to celebrate International Women’s Day with our women and girls across the Community. The Day affords us the opportunity to reflect on gender equality and the advancement of women as important components of this year’s United Nation’s theme: “I Am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”.

Twenty-five years after the Fourth World Conference on Women in
Beijing, China, women are yet to live in an equal world, free of all
forms of violence against them and where their leadership skills are
fully utilized and valued amidst a widening income gap and growing
economic inequality. The unfortunate reality is that 25 years later, no
country or region has achieved gender equality.

One of the 12 priority pillars of the Beijing Declaration is Women
in power and decision-making. Globally, three quarters of all
parliamentarians are men. The Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women recommends that temporary special measures
be adopted to fast track women’s political representation. Several
countries that have adopted those measures have seen a wider
representation of women in politics at the highest decision-making
levels.

Women and girls suffer disproportionately from missed opportunities
to advance their education and improve their earning power, as a result
of their unpaid care work in the household.  Progressive policies that
will decrease unpaid care work such as subsidized child care, parental
leave, and work life balance are needed and can be achieved.

However, there has been some progress and there’s much to celebrate.
For example, more than 150 countries have some form of domestic
violence legislation; more women are enrolled in tertiary education both
globally and  regionally; mother to child transmission of HIV has been
reduced drastically and  worldwide there’s been a 38% drop in the ratio
of maternal deaths since 2000.

Gender equality is not just for women and girls, but also for men
and boys because when women succeed, all of society benefits and
succeeding generations have better life chances to thrive. Young women
and girls are concerned about the climate and have been at the forefront
in the fight to save our planet and promote sustainable livelihoods.

Therefore, as we mark this important year for gender equality, let
us all remember that we are “Generation Equality” and we must all work
together to create a more equitable world.

Happy International Women’s Day!