Govt protecting women’s rights

Permanent Secretary of the Gender and Child Affairs Division of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Jacqueline Johnson announced this at the opening of a workshop on the CDAW (Convention in the Discrimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) at Cabildo Chambers in Port-of- Spain on Sunday.

Speaking on behalf of Minister of State in the OPM Ayanna Webster-Roy, Johnson said Government’s commitment to CDAW is highlighted in its Vision 2030 document which was laid in the House of Representatives last Friday. “We all need to look at that document closely to see what we have to do in order to achieve gender equality by 2030,” she stated. Citing rape and domestic violence as hurdles to gender equality, Johnson said, “We all know this because we see it regularly in the newspaper.” She said Government takes the view that, “One case of rape or domestic violence is too much in society.” Johnson said while many girls and women are taking advantage of educational opportunities available to them, “Many of our women have to contend with sexual harassment on our streets and in the workplace.” She said several policy and service initiatives already started, “will soon be made public in a bid to remedy this area in both the public and private sector.” Johnson added there is also a need to ensure “There is parity in remunera- tion such that women receive equal pay as their male counterparts for work of equal value.” Saying gender equality is not something which any government can achieve on its own, Johnson said Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to achieve this objective. Working Group on Discrimination Against Women (WGDAW) chairwoman Alda Facio said the placement of gender equality in any nation’s constitution does not guarantee it. Facio said this was an obligation which all states must fulfil. Facio added that discrimination in the world will never be eliminated as long as there is a single instance of violence against women.

Equal Opportunities Commission chairwoman Lynette Seebaran-Suite said there needed to be a proper definition of sexual discrimination.

She also said the CDAW spoke to issues such as child marriages and the establishment of a national gender policy which are critical to ensuring this country meets its obligations under the Convention.