CARICOM Secretary General, Mr. Edwin Carrington, on International Women’s Day, for the Caribbean region to resolve to promote equal rights, equal opportunities and progress for all, by translating the strategic Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) into significant actions for women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality.
In a message delivered by the Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, Carrington recalled that, 15 years ago at the Fourth World Conference for Women, in Beijing, China, governments of the Region stood arm in arm with world governments, as they pledged to advance equality, development and peace for all women everywhere.
He said those inspired national policies and legislation that affirmed that equality and opportunity, subsequently, became inalienable rights.
However, as the Beijing Declaration is being celebrated, it is opportune to reflect on ways to overcome remaining obstacles and new challenges, including those related to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Carrington said.
He noted that, although inequalities still exist, the CARICOM region has made significant progress over the last decades in achieving equality between women and men, mainly due to legislation, gender mainstreaming, institutionalisation of gender programmes and a proliferation of studies and policy analyses that have fostered a better understanding of the complementary gender roles.
Carrington said of those have enhanced advocacy by civil society partners and some extraordinarily committed individuals, some of whom have received the Triennial Award for Women.
He acknowledged though that there is still work to be done to accelerate progress for equality and gender justice.
“These include but are not limited to the harmonisation of national legislation with international instruments; promotion of secure livelihoods; ensuring access to social protection and strengthening public interventions to address domestic violence,” Carrington stated.
In honour of and to salute the women and girls of the Caribbean Community on the special occasion, he remembered Myriam Merlet, Anne Marie Coriolan and Magalie Marcelin, three women who fought for justice and empowerment of women in Haiti and were the lynchpins of the fledgling women’s movement in that country.
“Let us commemorate their lives by pledging to intensify our efforts nationally, regionally and globally to safeguard women’s rights to health, nutrition, safety and dignity;” Carrington urged.
He said the three women were among the thousands who lost their lives  in Haiti, the newest member of the Caribbean Community, which was struck by a most powerful earthquake that wrought extreme destruction and loss of life.
Carrington said their efforts must be not only for the benefit of those who suffered in the post earthquake period in Haiti but also those who have experienced the trauma of the catastrophe in Chile and vulnerable groups around the world.
“Let us use this as an occasion to join forces in constructing sustainable programmes to deal with natural disasters and emergencies, taking account of the needs of women and men who suffer forced displacement.,” he exhorted.