Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 03, 2021 (SKNIS): This year’s International Women’s Day theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World” is significant as it not only focuses on the achievement of women but also places much emphasis on their role during the pandemic.
“The theme celebrates the remarkable effort by women and girls globally in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Meanwhile, the campaign theme #ChooseToChallenge speaks to a challenging world becoming a more alert world,” said Celia Christopher, Director of the Department of Gender Affairs, during her March 03 appearance on ‘Working for You’.
Mrs. Christopher said that ‘Choose to Challenge’ indicates that women are responsible for their thoughts and actions daily.
“It focuses on individuals as we are all responsible for our own thoughts and actions. The theme is particularly important as it focuses on COVID-19 in a world that has been forced to face health, economic and social lock-down,” she said. “It is also timely as it impacts primarily on women’s lives. For example, women stand at the front line of the COVID-19 crisis as healthcare workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers and leaders in combating the pandemic. Women’s lives have also been impacted significantly through the loss of livelihood from the tourism and service industry sectors both of which are predominantly females,” Mrs. Christopher added.
She noted that is it important to recognize the economic, political and social achievements of women.
“The department believes that women must be recognized for their contributions, generosity and courage. Whether it is through advocating for change through their impact and influences as role models in the community, caring for children or promoting the legal rights of women we can all make positive gain towards women equality through our collective actions,” said Mrs. Christopher.
One of the activities planned by the Department of Gender Affairs in collaboration with the Business Professional Women (BPW) includes the airing of a four-part Docu-series on the Impact of COVID-19 on Women’s lives.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 03, 2021 (SKNIS): Every year, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis joins the rest of the world to observe International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 08. This year will be no different as the Department of Gender Affairs plans to celebrate the “tremendous strengths, resilience and capacities” of women with activities for the entire month of March.
The celebrations will kick off with a church service on Sunday, March 07 at the Cayon Church of God of Prophecy. On February 08, the Minister with responsibility for Gender Affairs, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, will deliver the official address to mark the occasion. This will be followed by the Annual IWD Awards Ceremony to be held at the Cuna Caribbean Conference Center.
Women will be awarded for their contributions in governance and democracy, gender-based violence, community service, partnership, medicine and education.
Other activities include the airing of a four-part Docu-series on the Impact of COVID-19 on Women’s lives and this will be done in collaboration with the Business Professional Women (BPW). Also, statements on various topics by influential women in society will be aired on various radio stations throughout the month.
According to Celia Christopher, Director of the Department of Gender Affairs, the department also intends to recognize employees on the industrial estate “and pay tribute to these employees who have made outstanding contributions to the industrial sector.”
The month-long celebration climaxes with the launch of the Women Pioneering Gallery at the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs. The gallery will be on display from March 08-31.
Mrs. Christopher thanked everyone for their support to women over years, encouraged more persons to get on board and recognized the achievement of women in society, as well as encouraged women to continue excelling.
“The Department of Gender Affairs thanks all of our partners, supporters and the general public as we celebrate our women leaders, their achievements and the importance of their work in our society during this time,” she said. “We want to encourage women to continue the good work that they have been doing as advocates and champions of change in helping to create a more gender-based balanced world.”
International Women’s Day 2021 will be observed under the global theme: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 15, 2021 (SKNIS): The Department of Gender Affairs is receiving full support by the Minister responsible, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, says Director of the Department, Celia Christopher while appearing on the radio and television show “Working for You” on January 13.
Mrs. Christopher said that she also had the opportunity to work with the former Minister of State responsible for Gender Affairs, the Honourable Wendy Phipps and got full support from her as well.
“I’ve gotten full support where gender concerns are conveyed to Honourable Minister Phipps,” she said. “As a matter of fact, she goes out of her way to ensure that we meet all our obligations.”
The Director of Gender Affairs said that Minister Hamilton ensures that he keeps in touch with the department and has arranged a meeting between the Department of Gender Affairs on Nevis and on St. Kitts to ensure that both are on the same page.
“You have two islands, but you have one country. So we met, exchanged views, we are making sure that everything is in order and I must give him his credit for that,” she said. “He is the one who is going to take our concerns to Cabinet and the Department of Gender Affairs really got the support from both ministers.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 14, 2021 (SKNIS): While appearing on the radio and television programme “Working for You” on January 13, Sharon Warner, Executive Officer at the Department of Gender Affairs, highlighted the need for the development of a National Gender Policy for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
She stated that the National Gender Policy is an institutional framework that will assist the government in facilitating gender equality and empowerment and improve compliance with repertory requirements on the various human rights instruments.
“It’s a key document that provides a clear mandate to enhance a gender-sensitive approach in processes and operations that will promote the rights and equality of men, women, boys, and girls,” she said.
Mrs. Warner added that the purpose of the gender policy is to mainstream gender in all sectors.
“In society, there are existing patterns of inequality and differences between the roles of men and women, which require different approaches,” she said. “A gender policy will promote greater gender sensitivity and understanding of the impact of gender on society at all levels.”
“So, we actually need a gender policy to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and human rights and to ensure developmental benefits for all,” she added.
She said that the policy will promote gender equality so that men and women can enjoy the same opportunities rights and obligations in all areas of life.
“This means sharing equally in the resources of the country including access to services, for example, health, education, social, political, economic and cultural,” said the executive officer.
Director of the Department of Gender Affairs, Celia Christopher, who also appeared on the show, stated that having access to the resources of the country is one of the most important aspects of the entire policy document.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 14, 2021 (SKNIS): In keeping with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5, which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, St. Kitts and Nevis is currently developing a National Gender Policy, says Celia Christopher, Director of the Department of Gender Affairs.
Mrs. Christopher was at the time speaking on the radio and television programme “Working for You” on January 13.
She said that since 1999, the Federation has sought to address the integration of gender into its policies and programmes.
“The need therefore for a comprehensive gender policy to assist with the mainstreaming of gender in all sectors of government and civil society is evident,” said Mrs. Christopher.
It was noted that the recommendation from the 2014 Gender Equality Study that was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank further highlighted the need for a National Gender Policy.
“The country needs as a matter of priority to develop a National Gender Policy,” she said.
Mrs. Christopher said that the objective of the National Gender Policy is to provide an institutional framework that will assist the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in facilitating gender equality and empowerment in keeping with Sustainable Development Goals and other international instruments, which the state is a signatory.
She further stated that the policy will ensure that men and women have equal access to resources.
“This is key because in society we have all sorts of groups out there, men and women. But they must be able to have equal access to all of the resources in the country, participate equally in every area of national endeavour, and that cultural barriers to the realization of equality are addressed,” said Director Christopher.
Mrs. Christopher noted that although St. Kitts and Nevis has enshrined in its Constitution non-discrimination on the grounds of sex, and is a signatory to several international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979) and the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality (1995), there is still a significant disparity between the de facto and de jure Equality.
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has since 1999 sought to introduce the full definition of gender while also addressing the integration of gender into its policies and programmes.
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