Empowering Women Who Run
Date:
UN Women Photos/Jessica Gill
Kingston, Jamaica: Women political leaders and aspiring women leaders recently participated in the “Empowering Women Who Run: Capacity-Building Workshop for Women in Politics - Jamaica”, supported by UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) -Caribbean and hosted by the Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWiL).
Participants engaged in interactive sessions exploring practical strategies for overcoming barriers unique to women in politics. The workshop fostered a collaborative environment where women could share their journeys, exchange ideas, and focus on developing leadership skills and improving governance practices to more effectively promote gender equality.
UN Women Photos/Jessica Gill
Monique Long, UN Women MCO Caribbean Planning and Coordination Specialist, led a session on “Gender-Responsive Political Leadership”. Taking participants through the 12 Critical Areas of Concern in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the UN Women Specialist highlighted the need for women's full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels:
“Women bring their own understanding of situations, their own lived realities and experiences to the space that is required to have laws and policies that understand the intersectionality of our citizens”.
Ms. Long emphasised the continued relevance of the Beijing Platform for Action for the Caribbean region.
“The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action offers a critical moment for the Caribbean to take stock of the strides made toward gender equality, assess ongoing challenges, and reaffirm commitment to the empowerment of all women and girls.”
UN Women Photos/Jessica Gill
The workshop, supported by the High Commission of Canada, included welcome and opening remarks from His Excellency High Commissioner Mr. Mark Berman, High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, Mrs. Sharon Coburn-Robinson - Director, Bureau of Gender Affairs, the Hon. Denise Daley, Member of Parliament for St. Catherine, Eastern, and Opposition Spokesperson on Gender, Culture & Social Transformation, the Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner, Former Opposition Leader, Bahamas and Dr. Tres-Ann Kremer, Regional Director, Caribbean of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
UN Women Photos/Jessica Gill
Several expert presentations were made by women party candidates from Jamaica and The Bahamas, and also Jamaica local government councillors and gender specialists. UN Women MCO - Caribbean was delighted to support the CIWiL-led series of empowering dialogues. UN Women remains committed to amplifying women’s voices and strengthening gender-transformative leadership across the region.