Barbados-29th Session, January 2018-Gender equality

Para 19) The National Policy on Gender was reviewed and updated by a Consultant in 2021. This review took the topics of COVID 19 and Climate Change into consideration and these thematic areas were added to the Policy. It is envisaged that after the presentation of the revised Policy to Cabinet, the document will be shared with key stakeholders, for their comments. The Ministry expects that the Policy should be finalised by the end of 2023. Para 38) The Employment Rights Act, 2012, as amended, inter alia, protects employees from unfair dismissal on grounds of race, gender, pregnancy, disability, marital status, religion, political opinion or affiliation, social origin, etc. Furthermore, the Employment of Women (Maternity Leave) Act protects the rights of females to retain employment during pregnancy and after confinement. The provisions of the Act grant such women a period of no less than twelve (12) weeks to recover from giving birth to a child, whether that child is born alive or not. Para 51) Barbados recognises the value of universal education from the primary level and provides free access up to tertiary level for its citizens, regardless of sex. Enrolment in formal schooling beyond the secondary level continued to be higher among women, except for the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology. There was little difference between the numbers of females and males enrolling and graduating in Information Technology at the Barbados Vocational and Training Board, in what can be considered a non-traditional female area. The tables in Annex I highlight gross enrolment by sex at the island’s major tertiary institutions. Of some significance is the table indicating that female graduates of the University of the West Indies, tended to be double their male counterparts, in each year between 2017 and 2019. A similar trend was observed in the graduates of the Barbados Community College. Para 63) In terms of occupation segregation, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MIST) partnered with the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) and other agencies to provide opportunities for girls to enter into STEM fields. In one such case through Girls Power –Tech –Barbados 2018 a mentoring event was held for girls between the ages 13 -14, which focussed on computer and digital technology with the aim of encouraging girls to pursue careers in these areas. Para 64) Similarly, the Soroptimist International of Barbados held a workshop geared towards encouraging more females into the engineering field. In a similar vein, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Technology and Vocational Training has alluded to the design of more programmes to expose women to career choices that are seen as unconventional. These career choices relate to areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Additionally, the Department of Science, Market Research and Innovation, formerly the National Council for Science and Technology, convenes an annual Science and Technology Summer Camp to expose children between the ages of seven (7) and thirteen (13) to practical aspects of Science and Technology. In 2021, the camp was conducted virtually due to the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Para 65) Additionally, the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs (MPEA), through the Bureau of Gender Affairs, has held discussions with UN Women on the design of messages aimed at encouraging males to participate more in care work within the household. This initiative has not yet been implemented, but is currently receiving the attention of the Bureau and will be advanced during the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Para 66) The Bureau of Gender Affairs has met with UN Women to discuss the development of a Gender Equality Campaign which would target both the private and public sectors. The goal of this Campaign is to address the issue of gender inequality between men and women, in order to facilitate equal participation of both sexes in all areas of their lives and endeavours. It is intended to target Focal Points in the Public Service, Members of Parliament, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), the faith-based community and the general public. Para 67) Under the Campaign, the development of a comprehensive communications strategy to raise awareness of gender mainstreaming is also envisaged with the aim of strengthening the commitment of public officers to the attainment of gender equality. Para 68) Plans are underway to take further action, in collaboration with stakeholders, on planning for the Gender Equality Campaign. It is envisaged that planning for the Campaign will be completed and that it will be formally launched in the upcoming Fiscal Year (2023- 2024). Para 75) The period under review witnessed further strengthening of Barbados’ position with respect to the inclusion of women in decision-making positions. It is noteworthy that, since 2018, Barbados has made significant strides to include more female representation in government administration, primarily with the election of the country’s first female Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley. Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister (who also serves as Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources as well as Leader of Government Business in the Parliament) and the Leader of Government Business in the Senate are both female. Para 76) Furthermore, elected female representation has increased to 20% in the Senate (Upper House of Parliament) where 8 of the 21 Senators are females, while females elected to the House of Assembly (Lower House of Parliament) presently number 7, constituting 23% of its 30 members. Para 77) In 2021, having transitioned to Parliamentary Republic status, Barbados saw the appointment of its first female President in the person of Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, FB GCMG DA SC LLD, who prior to this appointment served as Governor-General from 2018 to 2021. Para 78) To further underscore Barbados’ culture of inclusion of women in high-ranking and decision-making positions, various Ministries and Departments throughout the Public Service are headed by female Senior Public Officers holding the following top posts: • Permanent Secretary (as at 2020, there were 19 female Permanent Secretaries, out of a total of 27); • Cabinet Secretary; • Solicitor General; • Registrar of the Supreme Court; • Chief Fisheries Officer; • Chief Agricultural Officer; • Chief Education Officer; • Chief Parliamentary Counsel; • Chief Technical Officer; • Postmaster General; • Director, Child Care Board; • Director, Bureau of Gender Affairs; • Director, National Insurance Scheme; and • Director of Public Prosecutions. Para 79) As far as the judiciary is concerned, there were seven (7) female Judges of the High Court, out of a total of fourteen (14), while the number of female Magistrates stood at approximately five (5) out of a total of ten (10). There were two (2) female Judges of Appeal out of a total of five (5).