COMMONWEALTH OF

         DOMINICA

 

                                                                    PERMANENT MISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

                                                                                                                   STATEMENT

 

by

 

HONOURABLE MATTHEW WALTER

MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER AFFAIRS

OF THE

COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA

 

TWENTY‑THIRD SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY: "WOMEN 2000: GENDER, EQUALITY

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY"

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2000

 

UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS

NEW YORK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. President,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I bring you greetings from the government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

 

I consider it an honour and privilege to be permitted to address this Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly convened specifically to re‑examine the status of women as it relates to gender equality, development and peace in the twenty‑first century. As Minister responsible for Community Development and Gender Affairs in the Commonwealth of Dominica I take particular pleasure in being able to participate in the work of this great assembly of persons dedicated to the goal of achieving equity, justice and respect for women all over the world.

 

Mr. President, our meeting here to assess the progress made toward the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is, in reality, recognition that the effects of decades of discrimination against, and victimization of women could not be rectified in five years. By the very intractable nature of the problems faced by women in society and the myriad of exacerbating factors, there needs to be periodic review and constant focus on the commitment made in Beijing. This meeting also provides an opportunity to discuss and devise new strategies to deal with the impact of the new challenges and obstacles projected by globalization, trade liberalization, onerous debt burdens, and the continuous decline in official development assistance (ODA).

 

Women and poverty is one of the critical issues addressed by the Beijing Platform of Action. In the Commonwealth of Dominica, as elsewhere, past practices did raise barriers to women's equal participation in the country's economic benefits. The net result has been to relegate women to the lowest rung of the economic ladder.

 

In an ameliorative effort, the government of Dominica through its Women's Bureau and other agencies has embarked on a program aimed at improving women's access to economic resources. For example, the Dominica Rural Enterprise Project, funded by loans from IFAD and The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), directs loan funds to women farmers and poor households headed by women in rural areas. Further, increasing amounts of loan funds are being made to women by such agencies as the Special Project Assistance Team (SPAT), the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD), and the Agriculture, Industry and Development (AID) Bank. The Women's Bureau has also been addressing the problem of poverty through training for income generation, setting up Skills Training Programs in targeted areas.

 

 

 

In the more formal educational setting boys and girls continue to have equal access to primary and secondary education. The latest statistics indicate that the number of girls attending institution of secondary education exceed the number of boys, and the same holds true at the tertiary level where our young women, aggressively seeking available grant and loan funds are pursuing studies in a variety of disciplines.

 

Further, the Amendment to the Title by Registration Act that became effective on January 1, 1999 is one step in redressing the imbalance in the enjoyment of equal property rights as between spouses, thus providing an incremental measure of economic power and independence to women.

 

However, the negative impacts of globalization and trade liberalization tend to increase poverty in the society, and among women in particular, seriously hampering our efforts at narrowing the economic gender gap. For instance, the economic well‑being of women in Dominica is seriously threatened by the WTO ruling on bananas which has resulted in loss of income to farming and rural households, the sections of the society least able to sustain an income loss. The magnitude of the exacerbation of the problem becomes apparent only when it is realized that women‑owned and operated farms constitute 21 % of the banana production base. Women are further affected as spouses of male banana farmers.

 

We need to underscore the seriousness of the problem and we appeal to the international community, through this assembly to be mindful of the harm to people's lives and economic prospects that can result from the actions of international bodies.

 

Mr. President,

 

The Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action declares Violence against Women to be "an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace" and "manifestation of the ... unequal power relations between men and women". Accordingly, gender equality cannot be realized unless and until there is an end to spousal abuse in all its forms.

 

In dealing with this problem the Commonwealth of Dominica has adopted a two‑prong approach of education and legislative action. There was a recognized need to raise the society's consciousness and awareness of the extent and harmful effects of violence against women. Beginning in November 1997 the Women's Bureau and other women's organizations embarked on an one‑year campaign denouncing violence against women through organized activities such as a march and rally, panel discussions, radio programs, and locally produced television drama series entitled 'wake up call'.

 

In 1998/99 the Women's Bureau in collaboration with the Department of Legal Affairs conducted a series of three (3) month programs of Community Education Sessions on 'Women and the Law' in eight districts of the country. Those sessions proved to be learning experiences for all parties involved. The program organizers came away with an enhanced view of the need for legislative action to protect the rights of women in the common‑law relationships, and for a legal aid program designed to assist women in the enforcement of their rights.

 

In the area of legislation the Sexual Offenses Act of 1998 has substantially increased penalties and sanctions for engaging in conduct proscribed by the Act. The age of consent has been raised from 14 to 16 years. Currently, under consideration and intensive review are the draft provisions of a Domestic Violence Act intended to deal with all forms of spousal and intra family abuse.

 

Mr. President,

 

The National Health Plan of the Commonwealth of Dominica contains programs specific to the health needs of women and children, including a program intended to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child and an extensive Family Planning Program.

 

 

 

For many decades women have participated freely in the political life of our country. They have made important contributions to our governmental and political institutions at the highest levels, and we expect them to continue to add their unique texture to the cultural, political, and economic fabric of our country. We recognize that the task of removing the remaining constraints to gender equality in Dominica is far from complete but, as a nation, we are committed to ensuring that all citizens enjoy all the rights enshrined in our Constitution.

 

We believe, however, that in this national effort toward gender equality men must become more engaged and involved at the levels of policy formulation and implementation of programs geared to that end. In essence, we believe that such an involvement by men will help them in acquiring a more profound sense of the disabilities under which women are forced to operate in our society, and thus better equipped to champion women's issues. It is on the basis of that belief that the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs has effected a change in the designation of the responsible agency from the Bureau of Women's Affairs to the Bureau of Gender Affairs, to afford men and women parallel participation and responsibility in achieving the goals of the agency and as a step in the implementation of gender mainstreaming.

 

Mr. President,

 

As we strive to acquire a modicum of economic benefits for our people we must necessarily accept the validity of the proposition that 'sustainable development cannot be realized without the full engagement and complete empowerment of women'. Gender equality and the empowerment of women is not only the right thing to do; it is in our national socio­economic interest.

 

Thank you Mr. President.