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| Director of Gender Affairs, Ingrid Charles Gumbs |
The Gender Affairs Department within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Social and Community Development and Gender Affairs which holds the responsibility to develop and implement policies and programs that promote gender equality has disclosed the events planned for the year.
According to the Director of Gender Affairs, Ingrid Charles Gumbs there are a number of programs to take place for 2005.
The first item on the roster for 2005 was the nomination forms for International Womens Day Awards whom have already been nominated.
Mobilizing of womens Non-Governmental Organizations for the formation of National Council of Women and mobilizing the launch of Mens Program in Rural West, which was set for January, will now take place in March.
The Women Manifesto, which was launched in August, last year, is one of the issues being looked into presently under women in management positions.
During this month of February, sewing design classes at Lodge/Ottleys will take place. The Mens Relationship skills program would be launched in the Rural West and the Soft Furnishing Course at the industrial site should be completed.
In March, Youth Parliamentary sitting will be taking place and identification of research topics for summer internship at cave hill. The International Womens Day Awards and upholstery classes at the industrial site also are scheduled to take place in this month.
Sexual harassment training, the launch of after school program at Lodge/Ottleys (in collaboration with department of Youth and Community and Social Development will take place in April.
In the following month the events to take place are the launch of Democracy Institute, mobilization for Gender Policies and the launch of National Womens Council/Nevis Branch Council.
June will see the review of a Teen Mother Tutoring Program, organizing a teen mother summer program, gender training for permanent secretaries and heads of departments and basketry training at the industrial site.
In July the Gender workshop in Cave Hill for two officers (proposal topics to be identified in March) will occur.
The Teen Mothers Summer Program-Business Lab Program and the adolescent program will commence in August.
Skills training in the rural area and entrepreneurship, completion and submission on CEDAW Report-5th period and the floral arrangement program at the industrial estate will take place in September.
October will celebrate the month of elderly and public awareness for Gender issues.
In November, the Men and Women Against Violence symposium, issues on gender base violence, the street campaign and media campaign will take place.
In December the Work Plan for 2006 will be planned. Teen mothers Christmas party, and work experience for teen mothers will also be taking place.
So as you can see we have a really busy year planned with activities centered around promoting gender equality, she told SKNVibes.com.
When questioned on whether or not women abuse is on the rise within St. Kitts, Gumbs replied, I cant say yes or no because there are a number of unreported cases. However, there is no longer a blind eye for women abuse, people will see this happening and report it. They dont wait for the victim to do so.
She talked about the new forms that are available for women who are abused and cannot afford a lawyer. They are making use of these forms, Gumbs said.
The Director also noted that even though she discovered that there are a few men that share the view that women and men are equal, most males attitudes towards females are that they do not see females equal to them.
She said that, noting that most women are indeed educated and 59.3 % are among the poverty group.
Gumbs said women need to work together adding that a bird needs two wings two fly.
