PHOTO CUTLINE: Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot Williams (right seated) and Minister Hon. Cornelius de Weever (standing) both viewing the E-Newsletter. DCOMM Photo
Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever and Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot Williams recently reviewed the a newsletter on Gender Issues that has been compiled by the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs and Women’s Desk.
The first edition of the E-Newsletter on Gender Related Issues Women & Gender, within short will be emailed to civil servants with the aim to raise gender awareness within the government apparatus.
Entitled "Didici," the quarterly first issue comprises of an introduction; Word from the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health; What is Gender?; Elimination of Violence Against Women; Violence Prevention Program for Boys in Dominica.
The name of the newsletter, "Didici," comes from the first person form of the Latin verb disco which means: 1) to acquire knowledge/skills of/in; 2) to hear/get to know/become acquainted with; 3) to learn. Didici therefore means: "I learned."
Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever says, "It is only fair to treat everyone equally. This is the foundation of our society and the International Labour Organization gender equality in the workplace.
"We have an obligation to educate and ensure that we secure the future and continued contribution of women- our mothers, sisters, aunts and daughters," Minister de Weever said on Sunday.
"Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. All genders and especially women are entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty in our country.
"Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and to improved prospects for the next generation. The importance of gender equality is underscored by its inclusion as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals, which have formed the basis of our Governing Program. Gender equality is acknowledged as being a key to achieving the other seven goals.
"It is the vision of my Government that a Nation thrives when all can participate in politics, business and society as equals; this goes for men as much as it does for women. At present, women in the Caribbean account for just one in three people in formal employment and despite our relative progressive society there is still significant inequality amongst social groups.
"We also know that violence against women and poor maternal health outcomes persist in this region and this government, the Government for the People, is striving hard to make St. Maarten a forerunner in changing this trend. Promoting gender equity is about addressing these inequities while simultaneously being a smart economic decision. Women are as much the pillar of our society as men are. On St. Maarten investments in women bring dividends to our country in terms of stability, prosperity and productivity," Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot Williams said on Sunday.