CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – THE Organisation of American States’ (OAS) sponsoring of the multi-national project - “Promoting the participation of women in politics for good governance and democracy” - is further demonstrating its commitment to helping systematically remove the barriers to political power in countries across the region.
These were the words of OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Starret Greene at the launch of the Women’s Issues Manifesto yesterday (July 13) at the Red Cross building in Charlestown.
The Manifesto is one of several activities with its origins in the project which has as participating members Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Quoting statistics from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Greene said that a lot of work remains to be done when it comes to having more women elected to parliaments and to be members of cabinets across the region.
The figures quoted by Greene show there are 135 men and 23 women who serve in the Legislative Chambers of the OECS, with men outnumbering women by a ratio of approximately five to one.
“…we need to continue to raise awareness about the prospects for good governance and for strengthening democracy, and we should emphasise that the prospects of achieving this would be improved if more women were to become involved in politics...We need to prepare women through higher education and training for careers in politics.”
According to Greene, more women should be elected to top position such as Chairs, First Vice President, Secretaries and Treasurers in the political parties with which they are affiliated. He also said there is a need to put in place a code of conduct, backed by enforceable penalties, that would govern the behavior, speech, language, actions and the general discourse of all those who actively and openly participate in politics.
“Many women have refused to consider a career in politics because of the ridicule, slander, verbal abuse, disrespect, hostility and harassment shown to women who seek elective office. We should work to bring about changes in the current political environment so that more women would feel comfortable in entering politics.”
Greene also pointed to the current global economic difficulties which he said has had a more profound impact on women on “every continent, in every country and within every region”.
The OAS representative said this could be attributed to a number of factors. He listed one such factor as: “Despite women’s increasing participation in the labour market, this does not necessarily translate to formal employment, good pay, and with the conditions that characterise a decent job.”
Greene continued: “A number of small businesses and firms have been devastated by the current recession and many women have been the first to lose their jobs, with no severance pay or unemployment compensation.”
Greene listed the second factor as the salary gap between men and women. He said that because women earn less money they have less to spend in a crisis where prices for food and other basic requirements continue to rise.
“The question that arises is what is being done at the policy level to help women in these tough economic times and to focus attention and efforts on the development of capacity and economic autonomy of women. We are obliged to maintain the campaign to ensure social justice, equality and equity. “
Also speaking at the launch was Minister of Social Development Hon. Hensley Daniel, who said his ministry recognises the contributions of women in every sphere of the community. He said he was impressed with the Manifesto’s proposal for the attachment of earnings legislation to be enacted urgently, with allowance for retroactive payments. The Minister said that if successful it would help to eliminate some of the programmes in the Social Services Department.
Minister Daniel hopes the Manifesto would help to stop the negative portrayal of women in the media, and urged those gathered to work towards ensuring they (women) and, especially young girls, are not treated as sex objects.
Director of the Department of Gender Affairs in St. Kitts and Nevis, Ingrid Charles Gumbs chaired Monday’s proceedings while Jihan Williams of the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament gave an overview of the Manifesto.
The Manifesto, titled “The Least Is Not Our Portion”, was prepared by the Department of Gender Affairs with inputs by a number of women’s group across the Federation. Participating groups came from churches, political parties, support groups and even one sports association.
The Manifesto’s aim is “the articulation of the various voices of women throughout the nation, fused into one voice, demanding that women’s issues become national priority issues, and be taken into account in all of the decision making processes of the state”.
