Kingston, 14 July 2023 (Jamaica Parliament) – The regional conference on women’s political and parliamentary leadership held on July 12, 2023 in Kingston under the theme, “Empowering Women in Parliament: Driving Change, Inspiring Leadership”, is being a hailed a success.

The conference was organised by the Jamaican Parliament in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport with funding from the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarians (CWP).

This conference provided a platform for women parliamentarians and leaders across the Caribbean, Americas, and the Atlantic region to share their experiences, exchange knowledge, and build networks aimed at advancing gender equality and women’s political representation.

Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said the timing of the conference aligns with Jamaica’s efforts to facilitate networking, build solidarity and promote constructive dialogue on issues of importance among women parliamentarians regardless of political affiliation.

“I’m happy to be joined by the CWP, who have facilitated and organised this regional conference, which compliments the Government of Jamaica’s efforts to provide professional development opportunities to further strengthen leadership and capacities of Jamaican women parliamentarians to participate in the legislative process, in a gender responsive manner,” Minister Grange said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honourable Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, said the conference is a reminder of the immense challenges that women face, not just in their political journey but in general leadership. She said that despite progress, there is still a significant gender gap in parliamentary representation worldwide.

“This under-representation not only denies women their rightful place in decision-making processes but also deprives us of the diverse perspectives, talents, and expertise that women have always brought to the table. However [w]e recognise that change is possible, and it starts with forums like this, where we come together to share experiences, exchange ideas, and chart a course for a more equitable future,” the Honourable Speaker shared.

Jamaica boasts the highest number of women in parliamentary leadership at 29 per cent, 4 per cent higher than the global average of 25 per cent.

The conference featured a number of presentations, panel and group discussions, as well as a networking session.  It explored the issues, approaches and solutions to setting up multi-party women’s caucuses; the need for women’s caucuses at the local government level; the legislative process and how to make it gender responsive; as well as, legislation protecting women and other vulnerable groups in the Caribbean.
 
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