Office of the Prime Minister

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A national consultation on gender equality and women's empowerment was convened at the Stella Marris Pastoral Centre in Kingston today (November 22).

The consultation, which took the form of a workshop brought together some 200 women from various women's groups from across the island, to discuss issues that were affecting them and find solutions to the problems that were identified.

Dr. Glenda Simms, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Gender Issues and Women Affairs, told JIS News that she was very pleased with the number of women who attended the meeting.

"This is an excellent turn out. and this is not just a consultation for talking but it is also action-oriented as.we will look at solutions that can be implemented right away. They (participants) are going to be asked to establish a time frame to address these problems," she said.

Dr. Simms informed that the theme 'Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment' was very relevant to the Jamaican society "because without gender equality we cannot have the full development of women and the country on a whole. Gender equality and women empowerment is a pre-requisite to true development.women must be empowered to take their rightful place in the society".

Meanwhile, Professor Barbara Bailey, Director of the Centre for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies, noted that this meeting was one of the many efforts to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women in the country.

She pointed out that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states had already identified five strategic areas that should be addressed to attain gender equality and gender equity. The five main areas, include: education, poverty and economy, violence against women and children, sexual and reproductive health, power, and decision-making.

In addition, Professor Bailey cited the Gender Advisory Committee that was established in 2004 to promote gender mainstreaming in national development plans, policies and programmes in order to reduce gender inequality and gender inequity in Jamaica.

She informed that the suggestions from this consultation were expected to be incorporated into a National Gender Policy. "This policy is intended to be an integrated multi-sectoral strategy for main streaming gender into all areas of our lives and works as a nation," she said.

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