The Bahamas (Commonwealth Union)_ The Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting commenced in The Bahamas, resonating with a call for more resolute action concerning gender equality priorities amidst the mounting global challenges of the environment and the economy. In the context of a recent United Nations report projecting a staggering 300-year timeline to attain gender equality at the current pace, this assembly furnishes women’s affairs ministers with a crucial platform to assess the present status of gender parity and collaboratively devise strategies to expedite progress on shared agendas.
The meeting was inaugurated by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, alongside the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Hon Philip Davis KC. The event attracted participation from over 80 ministers and senior representatives from the six regions of the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, the first woman to occupy this position, underscored in her opening speech that gender has been integrated across all facets of her organization’s endeavors to facilitate more equitable attainment of member countries’ developmental objectives.
Secretary-General articulated, “As we meet today, our world faces serious challenges: the long shadow of COVID-19; crippling debt, rising inflation; and high interest rates and the increasingly harsh impacts of climate change. In each of them, the impact on women and girls is disproportionate. But together, we are more than equal to the challenges we face.” Addressing the representatives spanning the Commonwealth, the Secretary-General declared, “This is our time. Let us resolve that the chapter we will write together here in The Bahamas will lead us to a safer, more sustainable, more equal and more prosperous future for all. If, in The Bahamas, we, the Commonwealth, came together and were able to free Nelson Mandela. Isn’t it time now we free the women of the world? As Nelson Mandela once said: ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done’. So, let’s do it.”
Secretary-General Scotland emphasized that expedited action on gender equality lies at the crux of the Commonwealth’s success in the face of ongoing challenges, committing her unwavering support to the ministers. Further, while delivering his keynote address, Prime Minister Philip Davis said, “It’s time to demolish the walls of the old boys club. “Only when opportunities are opened up more widely, will we truly be making the most of the talent and ingenuity of all of humanity.” Terming the Commonwealth women’s affairs ministers meeting an optimal platform, he added that the discussions and resolutions that emerge will pave the way for the agenda for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Samoa in 2024. According to him, the work can catalyze the crucial momentum needed toward a fairer, more equitable world for all.
Hosted by the Government of The Bahamas and chaired by the country’s Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon Obediah Wilchcombe, the meeting serves as the 13th triennial congregation of Commonwealth women’s affairs ministers, which was held recently in Nassau, the capital city. Minister Wilchcombe said: “This is our time. Our people expect – and will want from us – exceptional leadership. Leadership that can make change happen… We have done it here in The Bahamas before. It was 1985 when the Commonwealth met in The Bahamas and made great strides and a big step toward the release of Nelson Mandela.” He added, “And six years later, he walked a free man, free of the chains and the shackles. It is now our time to unchain and remove the shackles from the women. We have the opportunity [and] the strengths of the Commonwealth to collectively make this change happen.”
The decisions reached during the three-day gathering will contribute to an action plan designed to eradicate gender inequality in various Commonwealth priority domains. These encompass women’s involvement in climate solutions, eradicating gender-based violence, bolstering support for women with disabilities, and enhancing women’s representation in leadership roles. The results of the meeting will be deliberated upon by leaders at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
