The Bahamas has a strong ecosystem of policy and action on women’s legal, health, entrepreneurial, and educational initiatives, Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, the Hon. Myles K. LaRoda, told delegates attending a United Nations Special Session — the Sixty-ninth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) – Wednesday (March 12).
“These productivity imperatives are informed by the intensified challenges faced by SIDS (Small-Island Developing States) – which negatively impact women and girls more than their male counterparts. As we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we remain guided by the Declaration as a blueprint,” Minister LaRoda said.
The Sixty-ninth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women is being viewed as “a pivotal moment for Women’s Rights amid growing global challenges,” and marks two very important milestones — the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – amidst what officials are calling “growing threats to women’s rights.”
The main focus will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly. The review will include an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform of Action, and the achievement of gender equality, and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The key component of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which encompass a broad range of issues like poverty eradication, hunger elimination, gender equality, climate action, and quality education, among others, all aimed at achieving sustainable development by 2030 across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
A functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the world’s main policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women. It is part of the United Nations, and works to promote women’s political, economic, civil, social and educational rights.
CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. The 2025 Session is being held under the theme: ‘Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the Outcomes of the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly.’
Minister LaRoda’s Opening Statement during the 7th Plenary Meeting (General Discussion) covered areas such as Education and Training, Women in Leadership and Decision-Making, Violence Against Women (including trafficking), and Health, in addition to challenges in achieving the Beijing Declaration.
Considered the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, is a set of principles and commitments to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. It addresses 12 “critical” areas of concern, among them, education, health, violence against women, the economy, human rights, media and the environment, and was adopted by 189 countries at the end of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995.
With regards to women in leadership and decision-making, Mr. LaRoda said: “21.8% of the senior political positions in The Bahamas are occupied by women, in the offices of the Governor-General, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and we have appointed women to serve as Presidents of the Senate together with cabinet ministers and members of the senate.”
Mr. LaRoda said the appointment of the country’s first female Commissioner of Police in December 2024, is expected to have great impact in support of the laws to protect women from violence, including being trafficked.
“We have introduced National Health Insurance. We have seen a 53% decline in HIV/AIDS diagnoses, and a 0% rate of mother-to-child transmission; and achieved a decline in maternal mortality.
“Our program for assisting women and children affected by domestic violence is a critical support system. We have constructed proactive programmes that support gender equity with accessible funding initiatives for women and disabled entrepreneurs with great effect on the community of small business initiatives.”
With regards to Education and Training, Minister LaRoda said: “Enrollment at the University of The Bahamas continues to rise, with women comprising a higher percentage of the student population. Bahamian women are now environmental scientists, biomedical scientists, engineers, and a Bahamian woman also serves as a first officer for a major cruise line. These are but a few examples.”
In addressing challenges in achieving the Beijing Platform, Minister LaRoda told the Session that, like other Small Island Developing States, The Bahamas remains deeply vulnerable to Climate Change, natural disasters, and external economic shocks.
“The COVID-19 pandemic struck at a time when Caribbean nations were already navigating significant challenges in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. The Bahamas addresses these realities with the aims of gender equity informed by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the complimentary ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future. We appreciate the support of our partners, including CARICOM, UN Women (the United Nations entity charged with working for gender equality and the empowerment of women), UNDP (the United Nations Development Programme, the UN’s Lead Agency on International Development), UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund, the UN’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency), the Commonwealth Secretariat, and various NGOs. We shall continue to move forward, upward and onward together in pursuit of this ambition,” Minister LaRoda concluded.
From: Bahamas Information Services
The post LaRoda outlines country’s ‘strong ecosystem of policy and action’ at UN Special Session appeared first on ZNS BAHAMAS.
