Minister of Gender Affairs, Dr. Adis King, has said that 2020 marks an important year for women’s empowerment and gender equality.
King made that statement during an address to the nation on International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8.
She said Dominica has made significant progress towards the achievement of gender equity over the years.
“The Sexual Offenses Act was amended in 1998 with sensitivity to sexual abuse of the girl child. In 2016, the Sexual Offenses Act was amended again and now criminalizes marital rape,” she explained.
According to the minister, this ensures harsher sentences for perpetrators of sexual violence and enforces mandatory reporting of suspected abuse of minors.
She said women in Dominica have played a major role in society and have even dominated in certain areas.
“Seventy-five percent (75%) of our permanent secretaries of government ministries are women, pointing to women’s pre-dominance at the highest level of decision making in the public service,” King contended.
She noted that 41% of women are also local councillors which she said is higher than the critical mass.
“At the level of local government in Dominica, there is evidence that there is an increase in the number of women local councillors and chairpersons of local councils,” she said.
Entrepreneurship, agriculture and fisheries among others, areas in which, according to King, that women continue to make significant contributions.
The minister pointed out that despite these successes, women continue to encounter negatives on a day to day basis including stereotyping.
She said they continue to do twice as much unpaid household and care work compared to men which, according to her, leaves women with little or no pensions at retirement.
“Gender-based violence continues to be an ongoing issue, however, the government of Dominica, via the Bureau of Gender Affairs, continues to tackle the issue,” the minister stated.
Pointing out that thirty-seven (37% ) of the country’s households are headed by single women who are still continuously challenged with child care and maintenance issues, King on all Dominican women to support each other as this year is important to reflect on opportunities, challenges and meaningful action.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day was “I am generation equality: realizing women’s rights.”
“Gender-based violence continues to be an ongoing issue, however, the government of Dominica, via the Bureau of Gender Affairs, continues to tackle the issue,” the minister stated.”Lol
It`s a sorry fact that gender based violence is an on going issue and fact, and the biggest culprit for this is administered from the Prime Ministers office, where he is dumb, has failed in promoting employment and good jobs for these women, and as a result that he does? Well, he opens his door and has over a hundred poor, hungry, unemployed women he has asked to come que up at the Entrance Foyer of the Financial Centre Office where he calls them up one by one to come and get hard cash from King Kong Skerrit. Skerrit is not visionary and has no plans for the development of our suffering people. Skerrit is just this fanfare boy who brings fame and loyalty to himself and no one says to him that he is and has been abusing States funds (Bobol) to capture these crying mothers to come for cash at his office.
Lenox Linton get a life. Views expressed, your blogs are the same old venom political innuendos that cannot get you anywhere! Where in the world there isn’t unemployment and poverty? You are using our women in a derogatory way, AGAIN. You are so clueless to blame government, because, you are too lazy to have a sustainable home Garden! You rather have concrete than have grass so you don’t have to weed! How many jobs have you created as an entrepreneur. You just can’t keep the back doorway shut!
This is NOT important!!!!
Men and women was NOT created equal nor will they ever will be.
Leave american fake drama in thier country n dont bring it here to cloud people’s minds n create another distraction because that’s exactly what this issue is, a big distraction to take up valuable time.
I hope dominicans dont buy into this foolish narrative n take part in that nonsense agenda.
Next they would try and push that gender fluidity garbage on dominicans too. There are only two genders, male n female, there’s no fence to be on or any side lines, never will be.
Dont bring that here. Hope people regard this as like a fart in d wind n keep focussing on whats really important.
Teach children good values n morals, n to never compromise d truth.
Dominica just too small to bring that barf down here.
Please, is not everything thing that trickling down we have to catch
Let some things continue falling away, dont catch it.
How are our women empowered and they have to keep climbing the steps of financial Center to beg a man for money? Addis when a woman begging a man for money you think that’s for free? Those who showed that they have any kind of power are those who voted UWP in 2016. Not even those that contested on a DLP ticket and were made ministers by Skerrit are truly empowered
Ms. King you are the living example of youth and women empowerment. Continue stepping up to the unheard and the silent cries of the victims and voiceless.
I don’t know Addis King defines “Empowerment” but if she is using those pullets in cabinet as evidence of employment then I can say she is dead wrong! How could women in Dominica are empowered when our women are sitting their and watch those Mal coshou abuse, disgrace, tear apart our young ladies, eating their 🐈 at will, before they get a job, a scholarship, a house or any cake. If Addis King is a real woman with a real consciene I dare her to watch Skerrit, Blackmore and Reggie in the eye and say to them that our women are empowered.
If you want gender equality, stop focus on woman alone. We have a serious social and economical issue where many of our young men have been forgotten. They spend their days on the side walks and at bus stops, outside rum shops or riding up and down on scooters on a daily basis. We continue to push for womens this womens that, we just celebrated women’s day on Sunday, what is there for our young men? What courses and curricullum can be developed? what facilities for sports and entertainment can be considered? In essence, people think because you are a man/male, you are supposed to be able to make it on your own. but men have mental and emotional problems as well. and they are “expected” to deal with it on their own time or risk being called a woman. If you want to talk about gender equality, start helping our young men so they can contribute positively to society.
I wish I could like that post 100 times