PM Kamla appoints envoys for women's and children's rights

A moment of sharing: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar with former first lady Zalayhar Hassanali

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has appointed Brenda Gopeesingh and social activist Hazel Brown as special envoys for women and children's issues in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

She made the announcement at a special tea party at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's Thursday in celebration of International Women's Day.

Persad-Bissessar said the appointments are in keeping with mandates from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2009.

At that conference Trinidad and Tobago urged all Commonwealth states to reaffirm their commitment to uphold the rights of children.

"In keeping with this international standard, I'm very pleased to announce today (Thursday) that in order for Trinidad and Tobago to pursue and promote these critical issues on gender and children's rights, Government has made a decision to appoint two special envoys for women's and children's issues to the Commonwealth Caribbean," the Prime Minister said.

She also said she will establish a national commission on the status of women, which she had promised while she was leader of the opposition. She said the government will launch the commission after consultation with the people.

"This commission is envisaged to assess the status of women but, also, to be a part of our Government's landscape to tackle the key obstacles to women in our country, with a special focus on poverty and crime and violence and to ensure that women in T&T have equal access to employment, education, technology and housing," she said

The Prime Minister also expressed pride in the role of women in Trinidad and Tobago, noting that "our country's progress is in good hands".

She said she chose to host the event to show you that "a day is not enough to celebrate our nation’s women. A week is not enough, a year is not enough, a decade is not enough."

She added, "But even as we celebrate our many achievements and elevation to positions of influence, we all know that much more has to be done if we are to achieve our true potential as leaders and as agents of ongoing change.


"This year, 2011, marks the centenary of the struggle for equal rights, for respect and recognition, for the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers, in the creation of a better life for ourselves, our families, communities and nation."