A delegation led by Minister of Social and Urban Transformation the Hon. Rawdon Turner is representing Antigua and Barbuda at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) taking place from March 9 – 19 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Also included in the delegation of high-ranking officials attending the annual meeting of the global intergovernmental body is Leader of Government Business in Parliament’s Upper House and Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Works the Hon. Shenella Govia.
The two members of Parliament are joined by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation Sarah Stuart, Executive Director of the Directorate of Gender Affairs Jamie Saunders and Project Officer of the Directorate of Gender Affairs Ashlea Ambris.
Their attendance at the meeting is being coordinated by the Antigua and Barbuda Permanent Mission to the United Nations. The members of the delegation will spread themselves across a packed agenda of meetings that are advocating for gender equality and the empowerment of women across the globe.
The meetings address a range of issues on which members of the delegation will articulate Antigua and Barbuda’s position, including advancing women’s economic empowerment, strengthening protections against gender-based violence, and promoting policies that expand opportunities for women and girls. This landmark session of CSW however will bring particular focus on its priority theme of “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls.” As a result crucial goals of legal system reform, the eliminationof discriminatory laws and structural barriers will be central to the discussions occupying the time of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation.
The high-level ministerial segments, which will be attended by both Minister Turner and Senator Govia, will also focus on advancing progress on several key issues. These include gender equality, the empowerment of older women, the full and effective participation of women in all spheres of society, and the elimination of violence against women and girls as essential steps toward achieving gender equality.
The Executive Director of the Directorate Gender Affairs will also attend a number of side events to include one on Advancing Climate Justice through Gender-Responsive Climate Finance. He will deliver a statement at another side event that will be seeking Responses to gender based digital violence against women.
The Permanent Mission is also coordinating bilateral discussions between the delegation and partner countries that will explore collaborative initiatives on advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Antigua and Barbuda.