Women under threat

The country first ever woman prime minister also called for all to work individually and collectively to effect change so women can occupy their rightful places as equals in the world. The theme for this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day is, “Be Bold for Change”, and she said this theme is most appropriate given the threat under which women live today, and the discrimination they face.

“In this country, women are under threat as never before, while an impotent administration stumbles along without any policy for guidance,” Persad- Bissessar said, adding that media reports tell stories of violence against both young and old women. “How can we be complacent when we hear horrendous reports of children at the mercy of men, even in what is supposed to be the sanctuary of their homes? Sexual violence against women is also taking place in dark corners and some women, who are seen by predators as objects rather than persons, remain quiet and even harbour feelings of being the ones to blame,” the Siparia MP said.

The Opposition Leader said citizens have a duty to raise their voices and take action, “to demand a more inclusive world for women in which gender must never be a barrier to progress. All of us have an obligation to stand up and speak out against every act that makes women lesser persons, and, we need to do it until we effect the change that our society and the world must make in the 21st century.” According to Persad-Bissessar, “Women represent half of humankind. Statistics from the World Bank show that we are half of the global population and here in Trinidad and Tobago our numbers have passed 49 percent of the total population.

Yet we remain mired in a never- ending struggle for equity with our male counterparts in every facet of national life.” She said that the World Economic Forum has predicted that the gender gap will remain wide open for decades to come and will not close entirely until 2186. She stated, “We cannot wait that long. One day is too long.”