Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. While we can be proud of the significant progress already made, this day reminds us that much work lies ahead to achieve true gender equality. As such, let us reaffirm our commitment to women’s rights and move forward with courage and determination. I am honored to pay tribute to all women around the world today under the theme “Pledge for Parity: Equality for Women; Progress for all.”
The theme Pledge for parity is significant and timely for the department of Gender Affairs, as at beginning of April 1, 2016, the Gender Affairs, will be, more visible and equip with the relevant resources so as to allow it to function more effectively to mainstream gender equality through effective mechanism throughout the TCI.
It’s everyone responsibility to pledge for parity as we need to empower our women and girls through, motivational support, collaboration, educational opportunity, healthy lifestyle, it is through these initiatives, women and girls alike will be provided with opportunities to tap in their area of expertise.
International Women’s Day is a day of celebration, but also a call to action because there is still massive inequality and violence against women that we need to overcome.
These are major constraints that hinder our development and they must be addressed in order to achieve sustainable and equitable development. This can only be addressed through partnerships at different levels between men and women, boys and girls as well as partnerships between various sectors in the development process. This implies that if development is to be fair, women’s contributions in social, political and economic spheres should not only be solicited, but should be deliberately promoted for equitable and sustainable development.
If a women is educated, she will gain confidence, she will have employable skills and employment will lead to financial independence. Empowerment will strengthen her and make her daring to take up new challenges. The empowerment of women and girl girls have a ripple effect that strengthens families, communities, countries, and ultimately the world. This promotes more productive and stable countries, enhancing global prosperity and security; benefitting us all. Today, let us give a face and Pledge for parity let us be the voice for the grass roots women who has been ignored. A male can take you where you want to go, but a female will take you where you ought to go.
On this day all over the world we consider both the steps forward that have been taken towards better lives for women and the progress that still needs to be made. We need to make gender equality an integral part of every aspect of life and of every human endeavor. There is overwhelming evidence that equality for women is progress for all. It leads to inclusive growth and contributes to peace and security. Gender equality offers the world solutions to the challenges facing our generation.
I call on every women and men boy or girl to join he campaign as we Pledge for parity by empowering our women. Empowering is important as she not only builds the home, but all routine responsibilities are completed by our women When at last she is at the forefront of our development efforts, it is she who will change the world.
Women are achieving great things, and many other women are still suffering, disempowered and vulnerability. Today I am humbled by what women have achieve; even in the toughest of circumstances women are working to make peace, to put bread on the table and to earn their own incomes. The voices of all women need to be heard so that their equality can be a game changer for all humanity. As a nation we must keep working to realize gender equality, to allow a vision of the future where girls and women can fulfill their own potential, and help their families and their communities to grow and prosper.
We have to make decisions that could end these things that hurt us, our children, our school and our communities. We are the ones that can Pledge for Parity. Make things happen to prevent these social ills
As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year let us also bear in mind that the struggle is far from over. Women’s empowerment should never be reduced to individual success stories. It should be about collective well-being.
In closing, I would like to extend my best wishes to you all for a happy International Women’s Day, participate and enjoy all of the events that’s plan in the various Islands. I call upon all women and men of the Turks and Caicos Islands to work together in partnership in order to address the challenge of inequality and move into a transformed and prosperous era. We can and must do better because equality for women is progress for all!
