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At UN's CSW68 - LaRoda outlines Administration’s steps to advance equitable financial empowerment of women and girls

Fri, Mar 15th 2024, 01:01 PM
Politics

Gender mainstreaming has been integrated into the state-owned and operated Bahamas Development Bank as one of three “principle strategic initiatives” that help to form the Government of The Bahamas’ commitment to advancing the equitable financial empowerment of women and girls, Minister of Social Services, Information, and Broadcasting, the Hon. Myles LaRoda, told a United Nations women’s body Wednesday (March 13).  Two of the three initiatives, Minister LaRoda said, are led by women. 

The aim of gender mainstreaming at the Development Bank, is to “sustainably finance women’s role in the industrial development of The Bahamas.” Mr. LaRoda said the country has created SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Technical Committees that collaborate across sectors, to achieve gender mainstreaming.

Mr. LaRoda was addressing the Ministerial Round Table on the Priority Theme: “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective” at the Sixty-Eighth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) currently underway at the United Nations, New York.

He said in addition to the initiative underway at the Bahamas Development Bank, there will be increased training and capacity of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and “generally non-traditional technical subjects.”

Minister LaRoda told his international audience that current initiatives at the state-owned and operated Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, are designed to increase female enrolment at the institution to 59 per cent.  BTVI, he advised, provides career training for the country’s workforce.

“The aim is to achieve a breakdown of financial barriers for women; uplift their socio-economic status; and erode gender stereotyping. We forecast that our programmes will positively impact individual and community development and resilience.”

Minister LaRoda said the provision of Digital Social Services will have a further positive impact on “vulnerable women” seeking social assistance.

“Vulnerable women make up the majority of persons that access digital social services, comprising approximately 70% of our patrons,” he said. “The Social Protection Management Information System strengthens the social services department's ability to provide digital services to 33,000 households. It automates beneficiary tracking, payments, and reporting to improve efficiency and targeted low-income assistance. It incorporates pandemic/disaster response components for beneficiary registration and immediate food assistance.”

Mr. LaRoda added: “With requisite funding, these good practices could become best practices. We hope to expand these initiatives with UN and international partners' help. We welcome assistance and collaboration to meet our objectives of strengthening institutions and services empowering women and girls.”

The United Nation’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, CSW68 runs March 11-22.  The main purpose of the UN's Commission on the Status of Women is to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. In order to achieve this, the CSW reviews progress achieved, identifies challenges to be addressed, and prepares policy recommendations on women’s rights in general, and on an annual priority theme.

Gender mainstreaming has been integrated into the state-owned and operated Bahamas Development Bank as one of three “principle strategic initiatives” that help to form the Government of The Bahamas’ commitment to advancing the equitable financial empowerment of women and girls, Minister of Social Services, Information, and Broadcasting, the Hon. Myles LaRoda, told a United Nations women’s body Wednesday (March 13).  Two of the three initiatives, Minister LaRoda said, are led by women. 
The aim of gender mainstreaming at the Development Bank, is to “sustainably finance women’s role in the industrial development of The Bahamas.” Mr. LaRoda said the country has created SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Technical Committees that collaborate across sectors, to achieve gender mainstreaming.
Mr. LaRoda was addressing the Ministerial Round Table on the Priority Theme: “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective” at the Sixty-Eighth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) currently underway at the United Nations, New York.
He said in addition to the initiative underway at the Bahamas Development Bank, there will be increased training and capacity of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and “generally non-traditional technical subjects.”
Minister LaRoda told his international audience that current initiatives at the state-owned and operated Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, are designed to increase female enrolment at the institution to 59 per cent.  BTVI, he advised, provides career training for the country’s workforce.
“The aim is to achieve a breakdown of financial barriers for women; uplift their socio-economic status; and erode gender stereotyping. We forecast that our programmes will positively impact individual and community development and resilience.”
Minister LaRoda said the provision of Digital Social Services will have a further positive impact on “vulnerable women” seeking social assistance.
“Vulnerable women make up the majority of persons that access digital social services, comprising approximately 70% of our patrons,” he said. “The Social Protection Management Information System strengthens the social services department's ability to provide digital services to 33,000 households. It automates beneficiary tracking, payments, and reporting to improve efficiency and targeted low-income assistance. It incorporates pandemic/disaster response components for beneficiary registration and immediate food assistance.”
Mr. LaRoda added: “With requisite funding, these good practices could become best practices. We hope to expand these initiatives with UN and international partners' help. We welcome assistance and collaboration to meet our objectives of strengthening institutions and services empowering women and girls.”
The United Nation’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, CSW68 runs March 11-22.  The main purpose of the UN's Commission on the Status of Women is to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. In order to achieve this, the CSW reviews progress achieved, identifies challenges to be addressed, and prepares policy recommendations on women’s rights in general, and on an annual priority theme.
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