International Women's Day is a celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women in recognition of their economic, political, and social achievements.

Supporting women is a high-yield investment, resulting in stronger economies, more vibrant civil societies, healthier communities, and greater peace and stability. On this International Women's Day, formally observed on March 8, 2014, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all Bahamians to continue in your pursuit of equality for all women of The Bahamas. We recognize the courageous and unwavering tenacity of Bahamian women during the suffrage movement over fifty years ago, which set the stage for majority rule and independence in 1973. I congratulate The Bahamas for the progress that has been made, as women continue to excel in government, education, health, business and many other sectors.
For the past seven years in honor of International Women's Day, the United States Government has asked its embassies around the world to nominate one female leader for the International Women of Courage Award. Embassy Nassau has recognized several outstanding Bahamian women for their contributions to nation building and the empowerment of women. Past honorees have included: Ms. Rose Mae Bain for her work with HIV/AIDS; Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson for championing the fight against domestic violence; the Honourable Janet Bostwick for her contribution to empowerment and advancement of women, particularly in the labour force, and Ms. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter for outstanding public service.
This year, U.S. Embassy Nassau has selected Mrs. Andrea Archer as The Bahamas International Women of Courage award recipient. Mrs. Archer, a retired public servant became the first Bahamian School social worker in 1969. She is known for opening the doors in the field of social work in The Bahamas' school system and has made it possible for thousands of youth to have uninterrupted access to health care and education. She is a nation builder, pioneer of women's rights, and a human rights activist who preserved in the struggle to effectively address inequalities faced by Bahamian women. She is credited for establishing the Providing Access to Continued Education (P.A.C.E) program that has afforded teenage girls an opportunity to continue their education throughout their pregnancy in a supportive atmosphere and then later return to the regular school system. Approximately 12,000 teenage girls have passed through the P.A.C.E. program since 1969. I wholeheartedly agree with First Lady Michelle Obama that, women of courage, "every day, with every life they touch and every spirit they raise, they are creating ripples that stretch across the globe." I congratulate Mrs. Archer for her steadfast commitment to ensure that so many young women of The Bahamas have that same opportunity to create ripples that stretch across our vast globe.

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