European diplomat says Caribbean women still yet to shatter glass ceiling
From Jamaica Observer
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC)— A senior European Union diplomat says while women in the Caribbean have made “outstanding strides” in recent years, they, like their European counterparts are still yet to completely shatter the glass ceiling.
In a message to mark International Women’s Day on Wednesday, the EU Delegation Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, Daniela Tramacere, said in the Caribbean, women have made outstanding strides and in a few countries — Dominica, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago for example — women have reached the highest levels of power.
“Yes, strides are being made as more women in the Caribbean are becoming decision makers which suggest that inequality at the workplace is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Also in Barbados one can see such progress.
“Yet there are still glass ceilings to be shattered. In the region as well as in Europe, women are still generally underrepresented in politics and in boardrooms; domestic violence and sexual harassment in the workplace are too often commonplace — despite some laudable legislative efforts,” Tramacere said.
The EU diplomat said that as for violence against women and girls, it is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world today.
She said the European Union is contributing to gender equality in the region by mainstreaming gender in all EU funded cooperation programmes as well as by funding specific gender equality actions.
“The EU has become more ambitious with the Gender Action Plan II and its vision for 2016-2020. Our “gender architecture” has evolved significantly.
The Barbados-based diplomat said that last September the European Union launched its new global programme to end all forms of violence against women and girls, titled the “Spotlight Initiative”. Implemented by the UN and backed up by an unprecedented Euro 500 million (One Euro=US$1.29 cents) from the EU, the Initiative will place girls’ and women’s physical and psychological integrity at the centre of efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment.
IMAGE: Daniela Tramacere
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