Minister of Social Services and Community Development the Hon. Melanie Griffin said the International Women’s Day is the time to reflect on the progress made by women, and celebrate acts of courage and determination by women in helping to advance women’s rights and empowerment. 

Minister Griffin was speaking at the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development’s Bureau of Women’s Affairs in celebration of International Women’s Day 2015 Roundtable Discussions on “Women and Poverty” & “Women and the Environment” at the BCPOU Hall, Farrington Road, Thursday, March 5, 2015. 

Students from various high schools throughout New Providence attended the roundtable along with government officials and other invited guests.

Deputy Director, Department of Statistics Leona Wilson and Director, Department of Social Services Mellany Zonicle spoke on Women and Poverty. Consultant, Ministry of the Environment and Housing Dr. Rhianna Neely, and Environment Planner Stacey Moultrie spoke on Women and the Environment.

Minister Griffin said: “The focus this year is on the 20th year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action under the theme ‘Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity, Picture It.’

“Today we will focus on women and poverty and women and the environment two of the 12 critical areas of concern in the Declaration as Priorities of Action for governments, the international community, civil society including non-governmental organisations and the private sector.” She explained that a Household Expenditure Survey conducted by the Department of Statistics in 2013 revealed that 52 per cent of all poor persons were females and their poverty rate was slightly lower than that of their male counterparts.

Further households headed by females, accounted for 47 per cent of all poor households and had a higher rate of poverty, 9.7 per cent, than that of the households headed by males, 7.9 per cent. The Minister said the survey also revealed the direct correlation between poverty and education, the number of persons including children in the family, and unemployment.

She told the female students attending the roundtable that these were important statistics for them to know and for them to take their education seriously, because as the study shows that there is a direct correlation between the number of persons in the family and education.

Minister Griffin noted that in the area of women and the environment, as a Small Island Developing State, The Bahamas is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which are likely to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. She said the students should listen attentively to the speakers and take away as much as possible from the presentations.

“Students you are the change makers of tomorrow for country. So I encourage you to listen attentively, ask thought provoking questions, and know that when you improve the lives of women and girls, you are making a huge difference in the human development of our country.”