Minister of State Kiz Johnson and President of the Senate, Alincia Williams-Grant to Advance Antigua and Barbuda’s Gender Agenda at OAS Assembly
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda will be represented at the 40th Assembly of Delegates, of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) of the Organization of American States (OAS) Meeting, scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. from May 28–29, 2026.
Leading the delegation will be the President of the Senate, the Honourable Alincia Williams-Grant, who serves as Antigua and Barbuda’s Principal Delegate to the Organisation of American States Inter-American Commision of Women.
Minister of State within the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation, the Honourable Kiz Johnson forms a prominent part of the delegation and will also be speaking at the meeting on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda. The Executive Director of the Directorate of Gender Affairs, Mr. Jamie Saunders will be part of the high-level delegation, and will support the participation of the Minister of State and Senate president.
The Assembly will convene under the theme: “The Economic Rights of Women in the Americas: Policies and Strategies to Guarantee Autonomy and Negotiating Power.” The meeting will bring together Ministers, parliamentarians, gender affairs officials, and regional stakeholders to examine strategies aimed at strengthening women’s economic empowerment and advancing gender equality across the hemisphere.
High-level speakers at the Assembly will include the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council, the President of the Inter-American Commission of Women, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and representatives of international development agencies.
A major feature of the Assembly will be a high-level ministerial luncheon on the economic rights of women, during which Minister Johnson is expected to deliver remarks on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda. The luncheon will provide an opportunity for regional leaders to exchange perspectives on advancing policies that strengthen women’s economic autonomy and negotiating power.
The Assembly will also feature a series of high-level dialogues examining critical issues affecting women’s economic participation and advancement. These discussions will include a dialogue on women’s labour inclusion and entrepreneurship, which will explore the challenges and opportunities for strengthening women’s labour force participation and access to entrepreneurship, with emphasis on eliminating barriers, fostering equal opportunities, and boosting the development of women-led businesses.
Additionally, the Assembly will include elections among member States for the constitution of the CIM Executive Committee for the upcoming term. The elections will determine the leadership and representation responsible for guiding the strategic direction and work of the Inter-American Commission of Women in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women across the Americas.
President of the Senate, the Honourable Alincia Williams-Grant, in her capacity as Principal Delegate of Antigua and Barbuda to the OAS Inter-American Commission of Women, is expected to deliver an intervention reflecting on Antigua and Barbuda’s achievements and accomplishments while serving on the CIM Executive Committee for the 2022–2026 term.
Both Minister Johnson and Senator Williams-Grant are also expected to contribute to the various high-level dialogues, where they will share Antigua and Barbuda’s progress in advancing policies, programmes, and legislation aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment, inclusion, and equality.
The participation of Antigua and Barbuda in the 40th Assembly of Delegates underscores the Government’s continued commitment to strengthening gender equality and advancing the economic rights and empowerment of women and girls nationally and throughout the region.