Initiatives undertaken are proof of Bahamas’ commitment to addressing climate change, health matters amongst women

By: Matt Maura

Bahamas Information Services

#TheBahamas, March 16, 2022 – Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Lisa T. Rahming, told a hybrid audience attending the Sixty-Sixth Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) Meeting that The Bahamas is serious about addressing Climate Change and health matters.

Mrs. Rahming said the country has undertaken a number of initiatives to support this claim, among them, support for the training of women in climate change and health, the elevation of women to key roles in climate change, the environment, disaster risk reduction and gender, the latter of which includes her ministry’s “foresight and the bold initiative in selecting a climate change and health specialist to lead its gender machinery.”

Mrs. Rahming took the opportunity to renew The Bahamas’ commitment to the advancement of women, while also calling for the United Nations to “stand with us and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

State-Minister Rahming made her comments while delivering The Bahamas’ Statement at the CSW66 Ministerial Round Table Monday (March 14, 2022). CSW66 has been scheduled for March 14-25 at United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA. The Meeting is being held under the theme: “Women’s voice and agency: good practices towards achieving women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and decision-making in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.”

Mrs. Rahming was accompanied to New York by Mr. Joel Lewis, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Services an Urban Development; Dr. Calae Philippe, Director, Department of Gender and Family Affairs; Ms. Kim Sawyer, Acting Director, Department of Social Services; Mrs. Angelique Nairn-Dennis, Director, Urban Renewal Commission; Dr. Sheena Archer-Moss, Consultant, Urban Renewal Foundation; Mrs. Lilliemae Longley, Operations Manager, Urban Renewal Commission, and Ms. Elaine Sands, Gender Expert, Department of Gender and Family Affairs.

“The Bahamas is serious about addressing climate change and health matters. The Bahamas supported the training of women in climate change and health. Women hold key, critical roles in climate change, the environment, disaster risk reduction and gender,” Mrs. Rahming said.

“Women in our Family Islands are not receiving or experiencing the similar opportunities and status as women in the capital, therefore, we must invest additional funding and human resources to establish strategic, local, and regional gender machinery offices in our Family Islands.”

State-Minister Rahming said The Bahamas recently conducted a mapping and analysis of the country’s gender equality commitments.

“My Ministry took the foresight and the bold initiative to choose a climate change and health specialist to lead its gender machinery. It provided access to climate financing to conduct assessments of our shelters and to engage in gender analysis and assessments.”

The State-Minister told her audience that if the use of per capita GDP remains the measurement of wealth and “we are continually denied non-reimbursable funding, it may be difficult to reach the most vulnerable women and girls.”

“We must work together with our international partners to generate funding for research, training, and new economic opportunities to empower women and girls. The Bahamas looks forward to the finalization of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI),” Mrs. Rahming said.

“We ask the United Nations to stand with us and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. If we fail, the whole world fails to achieve human rights for all. We still have the opportunity to attain the Sustainable Development Goals if we accelerate the research, training, human resources, and financial support to the most vulnerable regions. The Bahamas renews its commitment to the advancement of women,” Mrs. Rahming concluded.