BARBADOS – The Government of Barbados and some of its partners in the private sector will again come together this year to celebrate the women of Barbados as they join the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8.
“Ending Impunity For Violence Against Women” is the theme of this year’s celebrations which are being coordinated by the Bureau of Gender Affairs.
A service at the St. Michael’s Cathedral, on Sunday, March 4, at 9:00 a.m. will launch the activities, with Minister of Social Transformation, Trevor Prescod, delivering an address.
At 4:30 p.m. that same day, attorney-at-law, Margo Greene, will lead a discussion on “Women in Public Office: Past, Present and Future” at the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) headquarters. The BLP’s Women’s League will sponsor this event.
Half an hour later, at 5:00 p.m., the Bahá’í Women of Barbados will put on a concert-like event entitled “In Celebration of Women”. It will be held at the Lester Vaughan school lecture hall and performers will include Blak Kla Soyl, Margaret Bovell, and poets, Itrina and Lionel Haynes. There will also be inspirational talks for women.
On Thursday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Bureau of Gender Affairs will host a health extravaganza in Jubilee Gardens, Bridgetown, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Informative sessions will be held during the day on a number of topics, including domestic violence services, mental health, food and nutrition, finance planning, employment rights, child rearing skills, reproductive and maternal health and healthy ageing.
HIV/AIDS counselling and testing and domestic violence counselling will also be done, as well as cholesterol, heart and blood pressure checks. Entertainment will also be provided throughout the day.
The Barbados Mothers Union will host a one-day symposium on Saturday, March 10, at the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union, from 9:00 a.m. The title is “The Importance of Parenting Styles on the Development of Children”.
At 5:30 p.m. on that day, the Barbados Workers Union will salute 15 women who have contributed significantly to the union or their work places during a recognition awards ceremony at its headquarters at Solidarity House. Madame Justice Jacqueline Cornelius will deliver the feature address.
The curtain will come down on the activities on Sunday, March 11, with the National Cultural Foundation’s monthly reading session, which will feature the works of some prominent women and others. It will be held at Folkstone Park, St. James, commencing at 3:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend the events.
International Women’s Day has been observed at intervals by a number of countries over the past century. It has been sanctioned by the United Nations since 1975. The achievement and struggles of women are highlighted on that day, in the hope that their status would improve.
