Women encouraged to empower themselves by getting involved in national politics
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Contact: Julita Peter
Friday, March 19, 2010 – Saint Lucia’s lone female Minister, Senator the Honourable Tessa Mangal, is calling on women to begin to see themselves as part of the leadership equation. Senator Mangal, along with Micoud North Parliamentary Representative Honourable Jeannine Compton, were invited to speak to over one hundred women, at a national symposium on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Senator Mangal says the issue of women assuming leadership roles is a fundamental challenge which requires a revision of attitudes and approaches.
She says there are clear disparities between genders, in economic, political and social spheres, despite significant achievements, like the Beijing Platform of 1995, the Millennium Declaration in 2000, and the Brussels Programme.
“Currently women participate in all types of political institutions representing nearly twenty percent of legislatures in the Americas. Although women have made impressive strides over the last decade, the region still poses formidable challenges in the areas of economic and political inequality, domestic violence, machismo ethnic marginalization and the limited mechanisms for effective citizen representation and participation.”
Senator Mangal says women must therefore be encouraged to enter the political arena, and those already in politics must work to empower and entice others into running for political office.
“In particular, political parties must actively recruit, train and support women candidates. In order for true democracy to take hold in the Americas, governments must be representative of both sexes and all ethnicities, but we as women should be prepared to come forward and assume our leadership position now.”
Senator Mangal encouraged women to begin to empower themselves by taking interest in the matters that affect their daily lives. She further urged women to take an interest in community activities that appeal to their holistic development. |
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