From left to right – Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Barbados to the UN, Nicholas Cox; Civil Society Representative, Andrea Simon; Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN, François Jackman; Programme Officer, Bureau of Gender Affairs, Laura Burnett; and Director (ag), Bureau of Gender Affairs, William Warner at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at UN Headquarters, last week. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade)
Barbados is committed to removing barriers to gender equality in order to build a more inclusive and better society and addressing inherent vulnerabilities being experienced by women and girls.
This was declared by Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York, François Jackman, as he delivered Barbados’ national statement at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at UN Headquarters last week.
Mr. Jackman also stressed that gender equality is a key driver of economic growth and sustainable development. “Even while Barbados contends with the climate crisis, sea-level rise, the effects of faraway wars, inflation and the lingering impacts of COVID-19, considerable work is also being done to prevent discrimination and the marginalisation of women and girls,” he said.
Making reference to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark document adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women some 30 years ago, the Ambassador noted: “Barbados has sought to eliminate barriers to women’s active participation in economic, social, cultural and political decision-making and has made significant progress.”
He highlighted the recent announcement by the Government that maternity leave will increase from 12 to 14 weeks for single births; 17 weeks for multiple births; and the enactment of statutory paternity leave for three weeks.
The Barbados delegation to CSW also included acting Director of the Bureau of Gender Affairs, William Warner; Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Barbados to the United Nations at New York, Nicholas Cox; Programme Officer, Bureau of Gender Affairs, Laura Burnett; and Civil Society Representative, Andrea Simon.
Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/barbados-committed-to-removing-barriers-to-gender-equality/
Author: Government of Barbados
