Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 03, 2021 (SKNIS): Every year, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis joins the rest of the world to observe International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 08. This year will be no different as the Department of Gender Affairs plans to celebrate the “tremendous strengths, resilience and capacities” of women with activities for the entire month of March.
The celebrations will kick off with a church service on Sunday, March 07 at the Cayon Church of God of Prophecy. On March 08, the Minister with responsibility for Gender Affairs, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, will deliver the official address to mark the occasion. This will be followed by the Annual IWD Awards Ceremony to be held at the Cuna Caribbean Conference Center.
Women will be awarded for their contributions in governance and democracy, gender-based violence, community service, partnership, medicine and education.
Other activities include the airing of a four-part Docu-series on the Impact of COVID-19 on Women’s lives and this will be done in collaboration with the Business Professional Women (BPW). Also, statements on various topics by influential women in society will be aired on various radio stations throughout the month.
According to Celia Christopher, Director of the Department of Gender Affairs, the department also intends to recognize employees on the industrial estate “and pay tribute to these employees who have made outstanding contributions to the industrial sector.”
The month-long celebration climaxes with the launch of the Women Pioneering Gallery at the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs. The gallery will be on display from March 08-31.
Mrs. Christopher thanked everyone for their support to women over years, encouraged more persons to get on board and recognized the achievement of women in society, as well as encouraged women to continue excelling.
“The Department of Gender Affairs thanks all of our partners, supporters and the general public as we celebrate our women leaders, their achievements and the importance of their work in our society during this time,” she said. “We want to encourage women to continue the good work that they have been doing as advocates and champions of change in helping to create a more gender-based balanced world.”
International Women’s Day 2021 will be observed under the global theme: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”.
