PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5 September, 2020
Jamaica General Elections – Recognising Women’s Role in Politics
Kingston, Jamaica – 05 September, 2020 (JA): Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) extends heartfelt congratulations the eighteen (18) women elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) in the general elections held in Jamaica on 3 September, 2020. To the sixteen (16) women who were selected as candidates across the two main political parties who contested the elections, CIWiL commends you on a race well run. Your willingness to offer yourselves to serve and dedication to your country is applauded.
This 2020 election saw an increase in the number of women candidates, from the twenty-six (26) in 2016 to thirty-four (34) in 2020. There is now a 28.6% representation of women elected to the Jamaican Parliament up from, 17.1% in 2016. While we take note that this figure still falls below the 30% international minimum threshold for leadership and political participation at the national level, CIWiL commends the people of Jamaica for this positive advancement in women’s equality in political participation.
In a letter written, by CIWiL’s regional Board member Linette Vassell, to the Editor of the Jamaica Gleaner, on Tuesday 1 September, 2020 titled ‘Put Gender and Governance Before Political Agenda’ she commented that: ‘The time is ripe for transformative action and strong monitoring of the related commitments.’ CIWiL endorses this view and underscores that equal representation of women and men in politics and decision-making is a requirement for achieving gender equality. This is essential to true democracy and good governance in political and public life. Prior to this election, Jamaica ranked 121st out of 191 countries surveyed in the representation of “Women in Politics”.
CIWiL calls on the newly-elected Government and the Opposition to prioritise the passage of legalisation and ratification of international and regional commitments that protect women and girls, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Discrimination Against Women (Optional Protocol) (CEDAW) and the Convention of Belém do Pará (The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women). CIWiL also calls on all political parties to continue to introduce policies and strategies to assist and encourage more women at all levels of society to become involved in and enter representational politics.
CIWiL also calls on Government and decision makers in Jamaica to prioritise gender parity and to adopt gender sensitive legislation and policies in all areas of national decision making and leadership.
CIWiL commits to continue its supports to work with elected and aspiring women as they prepare for effective and transformational leadership.
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Contact: For more information, please contact, the Gender and Communications Officer at cdaniel@ciwil.org or at 1-868-345-9153.