Caribbean women seek to further practical involvement in leadership and politics
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Caribbean women seek to further practical involvement in leadership and politics |
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Contact: Adhara King
Monday, June 13, 2011 – The Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWIL) recently partnered with the government of Saint Lucia in facilitating a leadership workshop on Advancing Women's Transformational Leadership for Gender Justice in the Caribbean.
Hosting the second forum of its kind CIWIL aims to create a critical mass of competent, committed and effective women to transform politics and governance throughout the region.
Representing the national machinery is the Department of Gender Relations. Director of Gender Relations, Charms Gaspard says, this will be achieved through advocacy, training, information sharing and resource mobilization.
“Empowerment of women through political participation is key to achieving a more equitable distribution of power and resources in any society. Despite advancements made by women in the political arena in recent times, we all know the challenges they face as they continue to remain grossly under represented, with women making up only 16 percent of elected members of parliament around the world.”
Gaspard says, the traditional pattern of political involvement, with women working in lower levels of political parties in small numbers need to be addressed urgently.
“Women in politics and decision making positions in government and legislative bodies contribute to redefining political priorities. Placing new items on the political agenda, provides new perspectives on mainstream political issues.
This year's forum saw 24 participants from Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Belize, Jamaica, and Haiti. |
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