“Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights” Hilary Rodham Clinton.
In the 1970s, the term ‘women in development’ was birthed from a network of development professionals who challenged the notion that economic development had the same, equal and positive impacts on men and women. It became evident that interventions must be tailored to ensure that women successfully integrate and benefit
from social interventions. Their representation changed how women were viewed and included in the Caribbean development.
The notion that women’s rights are human rights has been circulated since the early 1980s. However, it became a poignant part of history in 1995, when the First Lady of the United States, Hilary Rodham Clinton, made a defiant speech at the special session of the United Nations Fourth World Congress on Women in Beijing. The speech established her political identity and catapulted women’s issues to the forefront.
Simultaneously, women in the Caribbean have been using their voices to create spaces to lobby for their rights. With their representation, women like Peggy Antrobus, who transformed the development landscape through the creation of the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA), Women and Development Unit (WAND) at the University of the West Indies and Development Alternatives for Women in a New Era (DAWN), created opportunities for women that was never thought of before in the region. Even after she created spaces for women to be represented and challenged governments to be more inclusive, she still implores the younger generation: “Don’t waste your time reinventing wheels; build on what we’ve done, but don’t be limited by it”
And we certainly have not. This is evident by the inclusion of women in positions of power in governments, academia, the private sector and many more areas. We have seen societal changes, from women being able to drive public transport vehicles in Trinidad and Tobago to teachers wearing pants in Jamaica to women Prime Ministers throughout the region. Women continue to be significant labourers in the social and economic development of the Caribbean.
Women in development know that a better world cannot exist without collaboration, which requires diversity and inclusion. Through their representation, they have shown us that all persons, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, or ability, deserve to be protected by the state and treated with respect. We must continue to put our hands to the plow, holding governments, the private sector, and even civil society responsible for their actions that discriminate against those at the margins. We must strive to build a world accessible to all, create a sense of belongingness and be safe from physical and psychological harm.
I applaud their work and continue to be a co-labourer as we inspire inclusion through representation in Caribbean development.
This article started on the wrong footing with a quote from, of all people, Hilary Clinton. It’d be more prudent to quote Gaddafi. I wouldn’t even quote Obama nor Trump in this article. Nothing to do with rights of women 😒
I think I’m blind is that a man or a woman if is a woman go take care of your hair style not appropriate
Hiliary Clinton Quote being used this is why it should not be used.
For whatever reason the female inmate the case: Department of Corrections staff prison staff in the middle of the night used the keys to a FEMALE INMATES JAIL CELL and had SEX with her. The result SHE was blamed as INTIMIDATING the staff MALE.
Second time another male prison officer – did it again. NOW the result SHE IS TO BLAME and increase staff deal with her. The men a slap on the wrist. HILARY CLINTON TALK WOMEN’S RIGHT
When we have the current Dominica Administration carrying on – and the head of our State College who was made Ambassador at Large he came from SUNY Plattsburgh I am saying none of the students from Dominica at that time asked Plattsburgh University to investigate the now Head of our State College – instead the spoke among themselves- in the early 2000s. I was elsewhere at another school where NO DOMINICANS go. Instead they talked among themselves. I had friends among them and friends with the person – he is one who would not have made it
Ministry of Education would have known about this and would have done something about it. Instead we continue to send our students there.
DOMINICA LET US TALK WOMEN’S RIGHTS. Hilary Clinton remember Monica – she still standing by her man. LET US TALK WOMEN’S RIGHTS.
It is sad, your partisan politics has created such a somber and erratic mind.
Why don’t you pause and listen to yourself, lol, shu. Why such innuendos,
your comment does not take away the facts and evidence of the present Government record where it stands on the recognizing women. You’re focusing on a specific person with almost your entire comment making innuendos is silly, and does nothing to address or make an informed comment regarding International Women’s Day 2024.
When a country allows the continued use of torture techniques and abusive methods its leaders have no right to be quoted or speak on this as they did and do nothing about it.
When a country accuses others of human rights issues and continue to use execution as a form of punishment and uses “execution” against others to score human rights points – they have no voice or should not be quoted on human rights.
When a country is accusing other nations of abuse, and it is involved in cruel and unusual punishment itself – this country leaders have no right to speak or be quoted on human rights.
Dominica has no voice to be speaking on Human Rights or Women issues as with all the strides that they claim have been made or is making we have NO VOICE. We wait for others to do, and we follow and for money and passport sales we harm our own people, we do anything to secure money.
We follow the same path down the Human Rights abusive road to gain favor with and business deals.
Can we find better quotes or come up with something else to use besides these people?
““Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights” Hilary Rodham Clinton.””
When one is talking about women and Human Rights and is encouraging the abuse of others in foreign countries and elsewhere even in their own country themselves when they or after they have arrived in powerful positions and do nothing about it and after leaving office does nothing about it these people should not be quoted..
When a country under their leadership is paying law enforcement and federal officers with or without wives and women at home, to have sex with women for “tips” – paying people who are trusted to protect them and they are abused by them for other reasons, tell me about their authority on human rights and women’s rights.
When a country is accusing others of hiding prisoners, and they are doing the same and even more – it have no authority to speak any Rights.
You DNO see what you did to Em Ba La.Since you daycalay the ahole it has become MAD.Domimican women are the best,Beautiful,Educated and Hard working.
Now Lin Clown
When we disrespect and exploit our women and children and continue to be disengaged in this discussion internationally – and do nothing in our country itself where these are concerned. elevate those who are involved. When our politicians are preaching Direct Investment and allowing their investors to be in bed with our women – and says and does nothing about it.
When their investors are given free reign to terrorize our locals resulting in this homicide case today – talk about human rights.
No human being has suffered more than a black woman. I’m always ecstatic of the accomplishments of all women but more particularly the black woman. Indignities, insults, humiliation, persecution, tribulation, affliction, domestic abuse and insufferable agony she has had to endure.
The black woman has had to care for six, seven…… children by herself with no steady income. Sometimes one thinks they are ‘magicians’ how they are able to keep the family together without the other half around.
This March 8, 2024, I want to publicly express my gratitude to all the women who have played an indispensable part in my life and for keeping our society together. Maximum Respect! Take a bow.