(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  The CARICOM Secretariat is honoured to salute the women and girls of the Caribbean Community on the occasion of International Women’s Day (IWD), 8 March, 2009.

This annual celebration gives us a special opportunity to reflect on the achievements on the path towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Looking back the torch that was lit 101 years ago, by the protests of the female garment factory-workers on the streets of New York, demanding shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights, has certainly lit the path of progress towards the achievement of significant advances in international and regional commitments to women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality.

The Caribbean has certainly benefited from the pioneering work and dedication of its own women’s rights advocates. Among these are:

• Nesta Patrick, social worker and advocate for the recognition of the mentally challenged;
• Joycelin Massiah, a scholar who shaped the regional agenda on women and development; and
• the late Ambassador Lucille Mathurin Mair, diplomat, historian and women’s rights activist, who fought for women’s rights, representation, justice and empowerment.

These pioneering advocates and others, have made an indelible mark on the field of women’s rights and paved the way for a generation of younger women to further enhance the legacy and blaze new trails.

Over the years, the Region has honoured these and other women by bestowing on them the CARICOM Triennial Award for Women, the most recent being Professor Barbara Bailey, educator and advocate of gender equality and equity in the Caribbean Community.

Women and girls of the Region from all walks of life have been excelling in several fields. They have grasped the educational opportunities and have distinguished themselves in law, engineering, arts and sport, among other areas. The memory of the historic feat of three Jamaican women crossing the finish line ahead of fierce competition in the 100 metres, at the Twenty-Ninth Olympiad in Beijing, China is still fresh in our minds. For good measure, Jamaican women also won the 200 metres and the 400 metres hurdles.

In politics, one third of the elected Members in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago are women.

The 2008 Global Gender Gap Report - a report which assesses gender equality in various countries and is published by the World Economic Forum - places Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados at 19 and 26, respectively out of a total of 130 countries. The CARICOM Secretariat takes this opportunity to commend these two countries on this achievement.

Generally, CARICOM countries have made significant strides towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), related to women, and even as we cross the mid-point towards the attainment target-date of 2015, we are on track to meet the targets set out in the Goal 3, that is gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Despite these gains, however, many gaps still remain to be addressed for the achievement of women’s empowerment and gender equality.

For even though there have been generous formal guarantees of equality, progress for many women, particularly the poorest and most socially marginalised, have been far too slow.

For many women, poverty and violence are realities of daily life as they struggle to gain equal rights in employment, participation in public life and public decision-making, as well as equal access to public resources and services.

Moreover, the current global economic crisis is likely to exacerbate this situation of women and girls.

A fundamental change in approach would be required if we are to seriously address these gaps and challenges. One element of this is to encourage greater accountability from governments and private institutions with respect to their gender policies. Another would be to provide positive incentives for honouring and penalties for not honouring commitments to women’s rights.

A critical test of gender accountability will be the reduction of violence against women, particularly domestic violence. In this regard, the United Nations theme this year of Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls is particularly relevant. The increased incidence of violence against women in this Region, especially sexual assaults, which are generally subject to under-reporting, must be of concern to all.

Today, International Women’s Day is being observed in nearly every country around the world, drawing attention to the gender injustices that still exist. For our part we must strive for progressive policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in our Region aimed at achieving meaningful change for equality, participation, peace and development not just for some, but for all.

To that end, let us also resolve to promote better accountability for women’s empowerment and gender equality, thereby translating the commitments by our Member States under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and their endorsement of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), into significant progress for women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality.

TODAY, WE OF THE CARICOM SECRETARIAT SALUTE ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS AND WISH THEM A HAPPY 2009 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!!!

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org