ISO: KNA
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The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth
World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
Secretariat.
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AS WRITTEN


ST. CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS STATEMENT
by Ms Rosalyn Hazelle Director of Women's Affairs

11 September 1995,
United Nations Fourth World Conference on women
Beijing, China 4th - 15th September, 1995


Your Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Madam President,

On behalf of my delegation I congratulate you on your election as
President of this very important Conference.

I address this conference today on behalf of Dr. the Honourable Earl
Asim Martin, Minister of Health and Women’s Affairs for the Federation
of St. Kitts and Nevis. He was scheduled and prepared to speak to you,
but had to return to our islands due to the destruction left by
Hurricane Luis. To date the damage is estimated to be US$197,000,000.00.

Madam President, allow me please to say sincere thanks to the
participants of this conference for the expressions of concern and
sympathy that our delegation continues to receive. We are very far away
from home and quite concerned about our people and it was most helpful
to know that our plight did not go unnoticed.

Our Federation, which has a population of 40,618, of which some 20,685
are women, suffers from some of the same issues expressed here by other
conference participants. We are struggling with the issues of violence
against women in particular physical abuse and incest, poverty, lack of
women’s participation in the political arena, and with the need to
educate and empower our women so that they are able to not only
negotiate but to ensure safer sex practices with their sexual partners.
My government believes that women must have autonomy over their sexual
and reproductive rights, if they are to protect themselves from unwanted
and unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases such as
HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B.

Madam President, our original delegation of six arrived in Beijing
excited and motivated to embrace the mission statement contained in the
Draft Platform for Action. I would particularly like to draw attention
to paragraph one which states in part that Equality between women and
men is a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and
is also a necessary and fundamental prerequisite for equality,
development and peace. A transformed partnership based on equality
between women and men is a condition for people-centred sustainable
development." My government is fully prepared to eliminate all forms of
inequality and is committed to the integration of gender perspectives in
all policies and programmes. Today, I stand before this conference as a
delegation of one, to express my Government's commitment despite the
aftermath of Hurricane Luis.

Last evening, as I read a communiqué sent to me from home, listing the
substantial damage to major areas which included all four of our
hospitals, day care centres, our primary and secondary schools, other
infrastructure and private property. I could not help but shed tears as
I was hit by the realisation that this disaster will not only set my
country back by several years but will have devastating affects on our
women in all areas of their lives. This once again brings home the point
of how susceptible our islands are to natural disasters and how
maintaining long term plans in the move towards sustainable development
can be affected. However, women can play a central and critical role in
the rebuilding process. we have special perceptions, skills and
knowledge to resolve the environmental issues which have arisen from the
recent disaster.

Though recently elected, my Government is committed to reviewing,
amending and introducing legislation that enhances the status of women.
Other legislation will be put in place that will enhance the
effectiveness with which law enforcement officers deal with reported
cases of violence against women and incest.

In an attempt to discourage the implementation of policies that address
the inequalities with which women are confronted, some are advancing the
argument of reverse discrimination, others contend that Caribbean women
are already empowered. The structure of our societies has made it
necessary for our women to accept the role of the head of the family.
The term of single parent ! family is not new to us. Our women have
raised children single-handedly. We have been nurturers and have endured
problems and struggles for centuries. For this we are told by some that
there is no discrimination, that we are equal to our men, so therefore
there is no requirement for gender equality.

Madam President,

My government recognises that equality is not merely lip service. My
government knows that equality can only be achieved with policies and
programmes geared to achieving equal access to education, promotion of
women in decision making positions, adequate health care for women, the
elimination of sexual harassment and violence against women and equal
pay for work of equal value.

As part of this understanding my Government is very aware of the crucial
role that the trade unions must play in bringing about the much needed
changes with respect to not only the inequities in salary levels, but
also the conditions in which women must work.

In addition, my government is committed to improving workers right, and
has pledged to keep its election promise to proceed with arrangements to
become a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and to
sign and ratify conventions for the advancement of women, amongst them
the conventions of the ILO. The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has
signed the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women and is committed to taking the necessary
steps to remove all discriminatory laws and practices which are likely
to have a negative impact on our women.

Further, in addressing issues affecting women, my Government is
conscious that attention must be given to the income security needs of
all women and will be reviewing existing social security legislation to
ensure that all categories of its citizens including the needs of the
elderly are adequately met.

Finally, Madam President, with the resilience of the small island
developing states and with the benefits of the declaration and Platform
for Action emanating from this conference, we are now committed to use
whatever resources and funds we have in meeting economic and social
development targets to form the necessary economic foundation for
improving women's status and situation. My newly elected Government
accepts the challenge and pledges to a gender sensitive approach in the
rebuilding of our country.

Thank you