Karen Ferguson-Bain, Arinthia S. Komolafe, Ann Marie Davis, Ms. Marjon Kamara of Liberia (Chair of the 57th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women), Patrice Strachan, Jenniffer Braynen, Beverley LaRoda
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The officers and
executive members of the New Providence Women’s Branch of the Progressive
Liberal Party joined the Bahamian delegation led by Minister of Social Services
and Community Development, Mrs. Melanie S. Griffin at the first week of the 57th
Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (the “Session”) currently
being held at the United Nations in New York City. The representatives of the
Branch that formed a part of the Bahamian delegation was led by Chairperson -
Mrs. Arinthia S. Komolafe and included Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, wife of the Deputy
Prime Minister, Mrs. Jenniffer Braynen and Ms. Beverley LaRoda.
The Session’s theme
for this year is the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence
against women and girls in line with the United Nations theme for International
Women’s Day 2013 - “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence
against women”.
On Friday the 8th
March, 2013, International Women’s Day was celebrated globally. It is recorded
that International Women’s Day was marked on the 18th March, 1911
for the first time globally by more than a million people. The purpose of the day was to promote equal
rights for women including suffrage.
The New Providence
Women’s Branch of the Progressive Liberal Party would like to see more
attention given to this important day and encourages greater involvement by
Bahamian women in the activities celebrating this event. While the Branch is not asking that this day
be observed as a public holiday like some countries have chosen, we believe
that the day should be recognised on the level of Mother’s day and Valentine’s
day as is the case in other countries where men present flowers and other gifts
to women in their lives to mark the day.
Minister Griffin (front center) with Bahamas Mission Women in New York
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The Branch also
believes that emphasis should be placed on and resources allocated towards fighting
the menace of violence against women within our nation. It is our firm belief that greater awareness
via diverse media with the involvement of stakeholders within The Bahamas is
necessary to combat this ill within our society.
While we appreciate
and recognise the accomplishments of women in our beloved Bahamaland at all
levels of society, we maintain that there is much work to be done. Our Branch firmly believes that more women should
be involved in the governance of our country at the parliamentary and executive
branch levels.
It is globally
accepted that social, political and economic empowerment of women is pivotal in
reducing and effectively eliminating violence against women and indeed all forms
of discrimination against women. In this
regard, we encourage the government to continue its efforts aimed at creating
equal entrepreneurial opportunities for all Bahamian in general and women in
particular. We also encourage
non-government and civic organisations to play their part in stemming the tide
of violence against women. A vital theme
that has emerged from the Session so far is the importance of involving men and boys in the process to
end gender based violence. In the same
vein, parents and the church must take responsibility for educating their
children and congregations on this grave ill that is not only a national
problem, but indeed is being seen as a global phenomenon that must be
discontinued.
