REMARKS BY
SEN. HON. SANDREA FALCONER, MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (INFORMATION) OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
TO THE
OPENING CEREMONY OF THE GOVERNMENT-NGO DIALOGUE: TOWARDS EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 AT 9AM
KNUTSFORD COURT HOTEL, RUTHVEN ROAD, KINGSTON
SALUTATION:
- Madam Chair
- Visiting Colleagues
- I recognize in a special way our friends from the International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
- Members of the Organising Committee
- Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen
I extend a warm Jamaican welcome to everyone and in particular the representatives visiting from abroad, some of whom might be visiting our beautiful country for the first time.
It is my sincere hope that through this dialogue, we will find new strategies as we strive to respect and protect the human rights of our women.
It is an honour to join the opening ceremony of such an important initiative in which government and non-government organizations have joined forces to focus on further action in eliminating all forms of discrimination against women.
Our Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, is unable to be here this morning but she is fully seized of the importance of this dialogue.
The issues surrounding the elimination of discrimination against women and gender equality are dear to and resonate with the Prime Minister.
As Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister and leader of the governing political party which is this week marking its 75th anniversary, Prime Minister Simpson Miller is a living testimony of a woman who knows what is to rise against the odds and to succeed in the face of challenges.
Madam Chair, I wish to assure this gathering that the Government of Prime Minister Simpson Miller is fully committed to the continued implementation of laws, policies and programmes which promote the goals of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
We will continue to honour our obligations under CEDAW, the Millennium Development Goals, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as our national development policies and goals.
The achievement of gender equality, equity and women’s empowerment are accepted development goals which are essential to the achievement of Vision 2030 and for making Jamaica “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”.
Last year, as Jamaica celebrated its 50th anniversary as a politically independent and sovereign nation, I had the opportunity of presenting the country’s Sixth and Seventh Report on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, reporting on the progress we have made over the years…READ MORE
Download Remarks by Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer on the Effective Implementation of the CEDAW