I am forwarding for your attention this important documents with instructions to also work in your
various country with thèse content from the Chair in Office Head Quarter in Trinidad And Tobago
Her Excellency Nelcia Robinson. (CWN)‘Rays of Hope on the road to Beijing + 20’.
Delegates at the end of Ministers’ Day at the Global Summit to end Sexual Violence in Conflict,
12 June, 2014.
Recent events in the Caribbean and in the international arena have provided opportunities for the
women’s struggle to return to the forefront, at the domestic and government planning levels.
The issue of Reparations for Native Genocide and African Enslavement must also speak to the
economic, physical, educational and sexual violence inflicted on indigenous women of Kalinago
and Black Carib descent, as well as on women of African descent.
The chilling reports of incest and statutory rape of girls below the age of consent within their
own homes, the murder of women who desire to leave unhealthy relations, point to the low esteem
in which women are held by some men and institutions in the society.
This gives the lie to statistics which measure the advancement of women by success in
institutions of learning, and the presence of more women in previously male dominated positions.
Such statistics are used to lull the population into the belief that all is well with women.
Less than two months ago, a high level Global Summit to end Sexual Violence in Conflict
projected strong rays of hope for the shaving away of the seemingly impenetrable wall of
violence against women. In his closing remarks at the Summit, the UK and Commonwealth Office
Foreign Secretary, William Hague, had this to say:
"Never in my time as Foreign Secretary so far, on any foreign policy issue, have I seen such an
extraordinary and inspiring gathering as we have had over the last few days. So many people have
worked so hard for so many years on this issue and it has always seemed that the odds were
totally against them."
"But it turns out from this Summit that we can bring together a whole army from around the globe
– an army of people of all ages, from all walks of life, spanning every religion and every
conceivable cultural difference, from artists to legal experts and doctors, all united with the
common vision of ending warzone rape and sexual violence, and now it has been put together, this
army is not going to be disbanded.”
The opportunity exists to influence positive change through this bold global statement, and
several other points of entry.
This year 2014 marks 20 years of the Plan of Action for Sustainable Development of Small island
Developing States. The year 2015 will mark 15years since the signing of the Millennium
Development Goals Declaration, and 20 years of the Beijing Platform for Action for the
Advancement of Women. That Conference produced a Platform of Action on the twelve critical areas
of concern for the advancement of women. These issues remain an excellent framework against
which to measure the progress of women, taking into account the provisions of the Millennium
Development Goals and the SIDS process.
At the local level, the outcomes of the First National Congress of Women provide a framework for
assessing the status of women in SVG within the context of the Beijing Platform for Action, and
related Conferences.
Two other bright Rays of Hope are: the statement by the newly appointed Commissioner of Police,
Michael Charles, that he will have as a focus the arrest of rape and other forms of physical
assault on women; and Senator Camillo Gonsalves’ statement in Parliament that he would like to
see more women in that Honourable House. The women’s movements need to applaud these Champions
and work with them towards addressing two critical areas of concern in the BPFA – Violence
against Women, and Women in Leadership and Decision-Making.
The Commonwealth Women’s Network (CWN) will launch its Campaign "When Sleeping Women Awake,
Mountains will Move” , on August 16th, 2014, with a Conference to address the needs of the
Girl Child, -the 12th Critical Area of Concern in the Beijing Platform for Action.
By Oreder of
- Nelcia Robinson
Coordinator, Committee for the Development of Women (CDW)/ Chair, Commonwealth Women’s
Network(CWN).
The African President Board of Governors council.
- HRH Prince Excellency TAMWO KUATE EDGARD