Message on the Occasion of International Day Against Violence Against Women

In 1979, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Often described as an International Bill of Rights for women, the Convention defines what constitutes discrimination against women, and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.

The Convention defines discrimination against women as “any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human right and fundamental freedoms in the political economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field”.

The Convention was the culmination of more than thirty years of work by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, a body established in 1946 to monitor the situation of women, and to promote women’s rights.

In 2006, after almost another 30 years, “extensive discrimination” against women continues to exist within the legal system by persons inside and outside the home, by organisations and enterprises.

The Beijing Platform for Action which governments signed on to in 1995 drew attention to the twelve areas of concern affecting women:
 The persistent burden of poverty
 Unequal access to education
 Violence
 Armed conflict
 Inequality in Economic Structures
 Inequality in the sharing of power
 Insufficient mechanisms
 Human Rights violations
 Stereotyping in the media
 Environment
 The Girl Child

While concern remains critical in all twelve areas, it is the area of violence that is eliminating the lives of women. According to a recent World Bank Report, the onset of sexual initiation in the Caribbean is the earliest in the world, except Africa where early sexual experiences take place within marriage. The proportion – 20% of adolescent Caribbean males who carry fire arms is extremely high. Gang violence is also high.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, according to one noted consultant paediatrician, at least 90% of teenage mothers that give birth at a hospital are impregnated by an older man or relative.

Throughout the region, Newspaper headlines tell the tale of women being killed by their husbands when they attempted to leave abusive relationships.

As male privilege and government helplessness continue their onslaught on women’s lives, they inadvertently force enlightened women to build the feminist movement – a wall of resistance – that like a wall of fire will both halt and transform the perpetrators.

The bricks for this wall are manifesting themselves daily through the body of consciousness raising exercises, and research on the situation of women. This is supported by lobbying and demonstrations focusing on communities and policy makers at all levels, and as more and more feminists, including young women, stand tall on their mothers’ shoulders.

As the movement continues to build the wall of resistance by making public the commitments made by governments in the Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, and other human rights instruments, and by stimulating peoples action, let us remember the passion and commitment of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic.

So formidable was this small group of women that they paid the ultimate sacrifice. They too are part of this wall of resistance, continuing their struggle through this day – November 25. As we salute them, let us draw hope from the words of Professor Joycelin Massiah, winner of a CARICOM Triennial Award for Women:

“On the human rights of women – The first part of my vision sees our region up front, forthright and fearless in upholding the human rights of women. My vision is that a human rights approach to gender will become an integral aspect of programme design and implementation that strong and well-resourced gender units will become a reality, and that their location will signal the commitment of our political directorate to the universal human rights which we claim to uphold.”

Nelcia Robinson

Coordinator

CAFRA