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Last Updated: Mar 24, 2017 - 12:21:17 PM |
Minister of Social Services and Community Development Mrs. Melanie Griffin recently addressed the 61st Session on the Commission on the Status of Women to share The Bahamas' perspective on "Women in the Changing World of Work".
"It is undeniable that women across the globe have made notable progress in many spheres of society," said Minister Griffin.
"This reality also holds true for The Bahamas – particularly in the area of education, where females represent more than 50 percent of graduates at the secondary and tertiary levels."
However, she added, there is a disconnect between the success for women in education in The Bahamas and women in leadership.
"While women represent 49 percent of the workforce, they are generally at lower-income levels, reflecting a deficit of females in high-level decision making positions – both in private and public sectors," she said.
"In the home, women take the lead in childrearing, caregiving and other unpaid work; a responsibility which should be shared with men in solidarity with women and in recognition of their parenting and other critical roles."
Minister Griffin assured the Commission that the Government of the Bahamas is committed and is working toward changing the status of women. She highlighted three initiatives since 2016, that have been promoting gender equality and economic empowerment. They are: the draft 25-year National Development Plan; the creation of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs; and the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development's Renewing, Inspiring, Sustaining, and Empowering Programme, known as RISE.
The Commission on the Status of Women is a global mechanism dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This year's March session convened under the theme "Women in the Changing World of Work- Planet 50:50 by 2030".
Mrs. Griffin heads a twenty-seven member delegation comprised of both government and non-governmental organizations in The Bahamas and is assisted by Ambassador Elliston Rahming, Permanent Representative to the United Nation and the Organization of American States, and his team within the Permanent Mission, New York. Mrs. Griffin is accompanied by Mrs. Phedra Rahming, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services & Community Development and Ms. Gaynel Curry, Director of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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