EDUCATION and Gender Relations Manager Dr. Gale Rigobert says that women’s issues are high on government’s agenda.
She stated that government ought to do more to assist female entrepreneurs, and to empower women against violence.
“Women, in an effort to gain economic independence, often contemplate small cottage industries, but there isn’t always the supporting social or financial infrastructure for that to happen,” she said. “We ought to do more to skill [these women, and] to ensure that women have the requisite resources to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, and by so doing, gain economic independence. That is very high on the agenda—what more can we do to lend support to women entrepreneurs.”
Dr.Rigobert added that the age-old issue of violence against women still needs attention.
“The ugly issue of domestic and sexual violence will also be part of the conversation—how we can better empower our women so that they can minimize their vulnerabilities, but also how we can educate our men so that they demonstrate a higher level of respect for women and not fall prey to criminal impulses.”