Minister Marshall calls for urgent action in addressing the issue of violence against women and girls

Minister Marshall calls for urgent action in addressing the issue of violence against women and girls

Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of State within the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment, Senator, the Hon. Samantha Marshall, is gravely concerned that the pervasive issue of violence against women and girls is not being treated with the necessary urgency.

Minister Marshall shared this view while addressing a major gathering, which was held Tuesday morning on the margins of the 68^th Session of the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) taking place at the United Nations in New York.

Her comments were placed against her own expressed view that the world is now at a critical juncture in its pursuit of gender equality and the protection of women’s rights.

The legal framework of the United Nations on advancing and safeguarding these rights rests upon the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and Optional Protocol, which is known as the “International Bill of Rights for Women.”

Minister Marshall was quick to point out that despite this significant milestone there is a glaring gap that needs to be urgently addressed.

“The global statistics we face are staggering –I dare say alarming– with an estimated 736 million women—one in three—having experienced physical or sexual-intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both,” she stated in making her point.

“These numbers represent not just statistics but the lived experiences of our mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, nieces, goddaughters, and friends. The repercussions extend beyond immediate harm, impacting mental and reproductive health, and perpetuating a cycle of suffering,” Senator Marshall further declared.

In spelling out the increasing litany of ills that women continue to face, she added, that the COVID-19 crisis, the cost-of-living crisis, the proliferation of conflicts, and climate change have only added to their burden.

“Women are now facing new and emerging forms of violence rooted in misogyny, patriarchy, and dogmatic beliefs, impacting every aspect of their lives: safety, dignity, freedom, and their equal and full participation in society,” Minister Marshall stated.

In this connection, she made the call for nations worldwide to negotiate the proposed new Optional Protocol under the CEDAW Convention.

“But we are not blind to the challenges ahead. Negotiations face obstacles such as cultural divides, politicisation of gender issues, and resistance from very conservative countries. As we navigate these challenges, I am reminded that the issue of violence against women and girls is deeply woven into the fabric of our societies,” she stated.

“I implore each one of you to support the proposal for an Optional Protocol under the CEDAW Convention. Violence against women and girls is not just a women’s issue; it is an existential threat to the sustainable development of our countries,” she concluded.

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