(l-r) Mrs Faith Webster, Executive Director, Bureau of Women’s Affairs; Dr Pauline Knight, Deputy-Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ); Ms Kerry Ann-Parchment, OAS; Dr Gladstone Hutchinson, Director-General, PIOJ and Mrs Maria Jones, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in discussion at the PIOJ’s photographic exhibition.
WOMEN WILL HAVE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT TO ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER THEY WISH, THROUGH VISION 2030, SAYS DR HUTCHINSON
Newly appointed Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr Gladstone Hutchinson, has stated that Jamaica’s women will have the enabling environment to accomplish whatever they wish through Vision 2030 Jamaica as women will be empowered to make sustainable improvements to their well-being and holistic development which is in keeping with the Goal which states: Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential. Dr Hutchinson, was speaking at the official launch of the PIOJ’s photographic exhibition to mark the OAS Inter-American Year of Women, held July 29, 2010 at the PIOJ’s offices under the theme She’s Royal. The Director General pointed out that although “we continue to celebrate the contributions of women in various channels including the arts, business, sports, politics and leadership, many of our women do not have a healthy sense of self or have low self-esteem and exist in environments where they do not enjoy equality of opportunity. Having such opportunities is critical to their well-being, development, progress, organic sustainability, happiness and dignity”, he said. Alluding to the theme She’s Royal, Dr Hutchison stated that when a woman is royal, she has confidence, freedom of choice, capable of making her own decisions and has control over her body and destiny. Addressing the challenges which women continue to face, Ms Kerry-Ann Parchment who spoke on behalf of the OAS Director, Dr Joan Neil stated that the OAS was gravely concerned with the obstacles which women in the Americas continue to experience including the stereotypes and sexist language which needed to be eliminated. She called for the society to give women more visibility and to incorporate their voices, needs and priorities at all levels of society. The Inter-American Year of Women, she said presents a golden opportunity for political parties, cabinets and all stakeholders to redefine the parameters of women’s participation in political decision making and to strengthen the commitment of all member states to promote and protect women’s rights so that they operate within in a world of equality and non-discrimination. The PIOJ’s week-long photographic exhibition which comes to an end on August 5, 2010 highlights Jamaica’s most celebrated sportswomen, entrepreneurs, parliamentarians, nurses and teachers. Scores of PIOJ staff along with representatives from the Bureau of Women’s Affairs and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture attended the event. The OAS proclamation of 2010 as the Inter-American Year of Women seeks to promote a broad mobilization in the Americas towards an assessment of the achievements and challenges in defending the human rights of women and gender equality, as well as increasing public awareness of these issues. |