The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) joins the international community in celebrating women on 8th March, International Women’s Day (IWD) under the theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’. This year’s celebration will focus on recognizing women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.
The United Nations theme is aimed at tackling economic disempowerment and brings into sharp focus the issues of social justice:
- Access to resources
- Equity
- Participation
- Diversity
- Human rights.
Women often face insurmountable hurdles in this hostile economic environment yet give life to the adage ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’. Many of them can overcome these constraints and rise above all expectations, oftentimes smashing the glass ceiling. The DPSU recognizes the constraints that Dominican women face and will continue to advocate for better working conditions and a more equitable socio-economic environment to allow women to perform at their peak. These women are found in all spheres of life, and we celebrate them for succeeding against all odds.
The DPSU salutes all women but especially our members who continue to give selflessly to others by accomplishing much with little. The DPSU has demonstrated its concern for our women by establishing a top care preparatory nursery school to enable our women to find gainful employment while their children are in a safe environment. In addition, the cleaning and security service, C&S, was developed in response to the threat of unemployment when the then employer started outsourcing. These are just two examples where the DPSU has taken action to assist women in ensuring that their homes, families and communities were economically stable and safe.
The DPSU believes, promotes and practices equity internally within its structure but calls attention to areas that are less progressive in the wider society. Gender equity continues to be a matter that should feature more prominently in national policy and practice. As we ponder accelerating progress for women, we must consider the sectors that are served more predominantly by women, namely Education, Health and Care services, child services and ensure women are not only celebrated but remunerated adequately, enjoy job security, and are provided with the support systems to achieve self-actualization and to thrive. This cannot be possible if they are crippled by stereotypes, if they experience harassment, victimization and/or violence in any form.
Women are the foundation of our nation and investments must be made to accelerate progress now and in the future. Investment takes varied forms; in education and training, equal job opportunities and promotions, pay equity, small business financing, public sector transformation that is gender sensitive and empowerment through social justice and social protection. Investing in women is equal to investing in families, communities and our nation by extension. The DPSU celebrates and salutes all our women.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
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