GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) is expected to approve the recently developed CARICOM Gender Equality Strategy (CGES) when it meets here on Wednesday.
The strategy, spearheaded by Ann-Marie Williams, Deputy Programme Manager, Gender Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, is guided and informed by a series of international human rights commitments, regional policies and frameworks, and other gender equality instruments that outline the Region’s commitments to advancing human development and gender-equitable outcomes.
The strategy is titled, ‘Stepping It Up: A Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality in the Caribbean Community’ and its approval would be significant as it comes just days after the CARICOM Secretariat joined the World in celebrating October 11, International Day of the Girl Child, a statement for the Secretariat said.
“In the past, girls were often invisible or left out of the conversation on youth development,” stated the Deputy Programme Manager, “but the 1995 Beijing Declaration and platform for action recognized the importance of the girl child.
“Protection and development of the girl child was one of the twelve-point actions or pillars that countries had signed on to and agreed to implement programs to improve the lives of women and girls.”
Williams underscored the importance of the strategy to the development of Caribbean girls and the synergy with this year’s theme for International Day of the Girl Child – ‘Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.’
She explained that the declaration subsequently resulted in the United Nations declaring October 11 as significant for activities that promote the protection and development of the girl child.
Ms. Williams also underscored that the observance is essential now, as many of the gains made to increase girls’ opportunities and protect their sexual and reproductive health and rights have declined in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“This year’s theme is ideal as it advocates for the rights of girls to protection, education, and health,” she stated, adding, “When girls are supported and educated, they can change the World.
“By empowering girls to use their potential to change the World, we will all have better futures. When women thrive, all of society benefits. Women account for 49.74% of the World’s population. We ignore them to our detriment.”
The Deputy Programme Manager said this year’s theme aligns with critical aspects of the CGES, stating that “the girl child anchors the strategy…specifically, the approaches that can be utilized for the protection, education and overall development of girls. This is a significant achievement for the Region”.
In addition, the Deputy Programme Manager emphasized that the CGES provides a roadmap for Member States to provide a regional coordinated approach to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Its principal goal: To accelerate the effective implementation of priority actions through a regional collaborative approach to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, aligns with Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
It is anticipated that the CGES will receive approval and commendation at the upcoming COHSOD-Gender with the overarching goal of advancing the protection and development of girls across the Region.
and then  is expected to approve the recently developed CARICOM Gender Equality){kind=link}