An historic day

Fri Mar 08, 2013

This year’s commemoration of March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD), a day of international significance in its own right, coincides with the funeral in Caracas of the late Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez. Even as women all around the globe hold varied activities to mark IWD, their colleagues in that South American country will have their normal celebrations tempered by the sorrow of Chavez’ passing.{{more}}

It has been a long, hard struggle to get IWD recognized in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Starting with the humble initiatives of the non-governmental sector (NGOs) in 1974, IWD in our country had an uphill battle to be firmly on the national agenda in an official sense. In the 39 years since then, there has been undoubted progress and successes where gender equality and opportunities for the advancement of women are concerned, but one gets the impression in recent times of a dilution of the focus.

One would be making a grave error to conclude that the fight for gender equity has been won and that, hence, IWD, does not hold the same significance as in the past. In spite of the many gains, we still have a long way to go. This includes eradicating the deep-seated social prejudices which affect even the best-educated and more economically-privileged sections of our female population and acts as brakes to our women being more fully involved in the decision-making processes at the very highest levels.

If we take a look at Venezuela, the Hugo-Chavez-led Government there, for years, was pressing ahead with measures aimed at raising the social bar for Venezuelan women. Long traditions in male-dominated Latin American countries placed serious obstacles in the way of women’s equality and equity in their respective societies.

Confronting these, President Chavez made gender equality and equity pillars of state policy. The promotion of women’s empowerment and ownership, including by indigenous women, the female descendants of Africans and women with disabilities became cornerstones of this policy. In 2007, Venezuela enacted the Organic Law on Women’s Right to a life Free of Violence, dealing with the problems of violence against women. This is considered to be one of the most advanced pieces of such legislation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In spite of these positive developments, whether in Venezuela or here at home, there is much more work to be done to accomplish the goals and to eradicate the scourges of centuries of oppression and discrimination against women. In this regard, it is vital that coherent strategies be worked out and a vibrant and united women’s movement sustained, if the gains won are not to be eroded.

As we today hail the achievements of our women, and consider the way ahead, we can only urge greater commitment and dedication to the still unfinished tasks. Our young women in particular, are in dire need of not just guidance, but positives examples from their elders. There is still not enough respect and reverence shown, the institutions and mechanisms which should underpin the ongoing push for equal opportunity need to be strengthened. Our women, organised and united, must lead the way in this direction.