CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – JUNIOR Minister of Gender Affairs in the Nevis Island Administration, Hazel Brandy-Williams said it is critical that the ideas and experiences of women are used to influence the design and implementation of programmes and strategies to shape the future.
In a speech to recognise yesterday’s (Mar. 8) International Women’s Day, Brandy-Williams said the world is full of innovation and technology which are drivers of growth and success.
That, the Minister noted, creates an ideal opportunity for the next generation of “female entrepreneurs, industry leaders, gender equality activists and women innovators”.
“Through technology and innovation, particularly through the lens of social media, we have seen so many struggling but strong women come to the fore to tell of their story and shape the national and international conversation on many issues. For example, through the innovative social media movement ‘Life in Leggings’, we saw how technology was used to shift social norms and attitudes,” she said.
International Women’s Day 2019 is being recognised under the theme: “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”, and the Minister believes that the theme encourages people to think of the innovative ways the potential of women could be harnessed to build smart and sustainable communities.
She added that it is through technology and innovation, in particular “through the lens of social media”, that the struggles of strong women have been made public.
“It is innovation and reducing barriers to women’s ability to access the by-products of such innovation, which has also allowed us to expand our choices - be it in business, healthcare, politics, agriculture and various other fields of human endeavour; but we still can and must do more,” noted Brandy-Williams.
She intimated that women could be further empowered with critical skills and vocational capabilities in order to play a pivotal role in emerging industries.
Most importantly, she said, opportunities must continue to be provided for the development of women in leadership capacity, so that they could be “agents of positive change” in the communities.
