Caribbean Making Progress in Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment

Steady progress is being made by Jamaica and the wider Caribbean in promoting women’s economic empowerment, through efforts to increase access to credit, training, and education, says Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness.

She noted that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has implemented programmes to support women entrepreneurs, including providing loans and training.

Mrs. Holness said that microfinance institutions (MFIs) are increasingly recognising the importance of serving women, designing loan products specifically for them.

She cited statistics, which indicate that 72 per cent of JN small business loans recipients in 2013, were women.

Mrs. Holness, who was delivering the keynote address at the 2023 Nevalliance International Women’s Conference, held recently at the Hofstra University in the United States, further cited Government policies and initiatives, like the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Project in Jamaica, that provides grants, loans and business development services to female business owners.

She said that technology is playing a key role in improving access to credit for Caribbean women, who, through digital lending platforms, are able to apply for loans online.

“It facilitates those living in rural areas or who have limited mobility,” she pointed out.

Stating that these practices have been successful in promoting gender equality in the Caribbean, Mrs. Holness, who is also Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Rural, said they can serve as examples for other regions around the world.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Holness noted that gender-based violence remains a “significant challenge” for women in the Global South, and countries are putting measures in place to address the issue.

She said that “one best practice for us in Jamaica is to create a Male Desk in the Bureau of Gender Affairs, and this has been an important pathway for men to discuss male-centered issues, as well as bringing them into the discussion on gender-based violence as allies.”

“This is contentious for some, but I maintain that to eliminate gender-based violence, men have to be engaged,” she said.

Mrs. Holness hailed women as “powerful, inspiring, and capable of making a difference in this world” and urged that the views of marginalised women be incorporated in the development agenda in a more meaningful way.

“Your accomplishments and achievements are a testament to your strength, perseverance, and dedication. You have overcome obstacles, shattered glass ceilings, and paved the way for future generations of women to follow in your footsteps,” she said.

The International Women’s Conference, held under the theme: ‘International Women of Influence’ was aimed at creating a more informed understanding of the opportunities, issues, and approaches to women empowerment, which results in increased awareness, and resources directed towards supporting women.