#TheBahamas, November 16, 2021 – Present and former female Parliamentarians (House of Assembly and the Senate) from across the political spectrum, leaders of female Non-Governmental Organizations and advocacy groups – including representatives from the community of persons with disabilities – women in service, women in governance, and other partners and stakeholders, participated in the 2021 Women United in Politics Hybrid Forum held Friday (November 12).

Officials called the session: “Significant for our country at this time because we had a landmark event with 30 per cent of the candidates being women for the first time in our history and what that means is that there is representation from women.”

Bahamas Ambassador to CARICOM (Caribbean Community), Her Excellency, Leslie Miller-Brice, the Member of Parliament for Seabreeze, led the delegation of female parliamentarians who attended the In-House Session. They were joined via Zoom by other parliamentary colleagues.

Hosted by the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, the Forum also provided organizers with the opportunity to salute the current slate of female Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators, women in governance, and those who would have contested seats in the recently concluded General Elections, for their successes/accomplishments. Tribute was also paid to all of the former female Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, women in politics and women in governance, who “would have paved the way.”

Mrs. Roselyn Dorsett-Horton, Under Secretary, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, told participants that: “As women of all races and socio-economic backgrounds joined forces many years ago in the Women’s Suffrage Movement to fight for, and subsequently win, the Right to Vote, this season, right now, represents another historic opportunity in the history of our country to unite as women to address the issue of violence in all of its forms and its impact on us all.”

“It will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile fighting for is ever so. I have faith in the power of our collective resolve and unity to win this fight with the help of the Almighty God. The future of our girls, our children, depends on us in this moment.

“This forum provides an opportunity for us, as women, to unite, to forge a way forward, to improve the lives and well-being of our children, our sisters and our nation. As women, working together, we can lift every woman, every girl, every child and leave no one behind,” Under Secretary Dorsett-Horton concluded.

Dr. Calae Philippe, the Director of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, said there are inherent benefits to women having a greater say at the political table.

“The United Nations suggests that if women are represented in the political arena, then we have more hope for the transformation of society as a whole,” Dr. Philippe said. “Men have a significant role, but when a woman sits at the table she is thinking about what should we do about the children; what should we do about babysitting; what should we do about childcare because those inherently are her responsibilities and so we want to move that into the political sphere where we address the particular funding to move the agenda forward for men, women, boys and girls.

“We also brought together these women together to talk about where we have come from, but also to talk about where we need to go and to put together our collective minds together to move the country ahead in its sustainable development goals in reducing, eliminating and eradicating violence.”

The forum was held under the theme: “A Unified Women’s Agenda” as part of the combined celebrations commemorating International Men’s Day (November 19), National Women’s Week (November 24-30) and the United Nations’ Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, beginning November 25 with the observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concluding December 10, International Human Rights Day.

Participants heard from a number of speakers including Mrs. Prodesta Moore, President of Women United; Ms. Robyn Lynes, Deputy Chairperson, Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWIL), Bahamas Chapter; Ms. Kim Sawyer, the Acting Director of the Department of Social Services; Miss Toree Musgrove, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Unit, Office of the Prime Minister; Mr. Henry Johnson, Male Programme Coordinator, Male Desk, Department of Gender and Family Affairs; Ms. Elaine Sands, Gender Expert, Department of Gender and Family Affairs and Dr. Philippe.

“Today was a very good start to our celebrations beginning with the observances of International Men’s Day, National Women’s Week and the United Nations’ Sixteen days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” Dr. Philippe added.

Photo Captions: 

Header: Mrs. Roselyn Dorsett-Horton, Under Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development addressing Friday’s Women United in Politics Hybrid Session that was hosted by the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development.

Insert: Mrs. Prodesta Moore, President of Women United, shown addressing Friday’s Hybrid Women United in Politics Forum that was held under the theme: “A Unified Agenda.”

(BIS Photo/Kristaan Ingraham)