Grange Says Rural Women are “Agents of Change”

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, says Jamaicans should view rural women as ‘agents of change’, and vital to rural sustainable development.

She said that the Government recognizes that the livelihoods and needs of women in poor rural households are diverse, and has been taking steps to improve the conditions that mitigate improvements in their lives.

“Let us see the rural woman beyond the household. Let us see them as agents of change, and as vital to the rural sustainable development dialogue: Not just at the community level, but also at the highest levels of decision making”, Miss Grange urged.

She made this call in an address read by the Executive Director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs in the Ministry, Faith Webster, at the World Rural Women’s Day Seminar at the St. John’s Gibraltar Anglican Church, Endeavour, St. Ann on Thursday (October 20).

Miss Grange noted that for many years, rural women have remained invisible and their work undervalued, but that with improved statistical reporting over the past three decades, promoted by international bodies, their contributions are now being recognized.

She noted that International Rural Women’s Day directs attention to the contribution of women to rural areas, the many challenges they face and their role in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.

“The reality is, women in general, and in particular rural women, have suffered from structural and institutional problems and are marginalized on two counts: they face higher levels of poverty; and they are discriminated against legally, socially, economically and culturally”, she pointed out.

Minister Grange also observed that many rural women were engaged in income generating activities, from farming to employment in tourism sector and a variety of small businesses, carving out a niche for themselves in the current harsh economic times.

“It is therefore critical that our rural women are given the adequate tools, training in information technology and social marketing skills, to allow them to be economically empowered,” she added.

She also stated that the National Gender Policy, formulated by the Bureau of Women’s Affairs and approved by Cabinet in March, speaks specifically to developing and implementing strategies to address vulnerabilities among rural women.

She said this is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).  Article 14 of the Convention specifically seeks to address the needs of rural women.

“I must express gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Bureau of Women’s Affairs, Social Development Commission and all non-governmental organizations that have collaborated and confronted the issues and obstacles to help change the lives of rural women”, Minister Grange concluded.   

The seminar attracted a wide group of women from St. Ann and neighbouring parishes, celebrating and recognising the International Day for Rural Women 2011. It was hosted by the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, which falls under the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Gender and Development.

By Glenis Rose, JIS Reporter