The Commonwealth’s first female Chairperson-in-Office – who also happens to be Trinidad and Tobago’s first female Prime Minister – gives her special insights into this year’s Commonwealth theme: ‘Women as Agents of Change’. She extols the “mature, modern society” of her home country, that allows women to excel
Global: Do you think that women effect change in a different way to men? And do the types of changes they bring about differ too?
Kamla Persad-Bissessar: I do believe that women effect change differently to men. Through our very femininity, we tend to look at a broader range of issues, not only those relating to equality and women’s rights, but issues primarily affecting our quality of life. Empirical evidence has shown a direct correlation between an increased presence of women in political office and an increase in legislation relating to improvements in social and developmental issues, as well as an overall greater responsiveness to citizen needs. Women policymakers have also been shown to display greater sensitivity to the needs of marginalised or underrepresented communities. It is undeniable that having a balance of men and women participate in decision-making at a legislative level will certainly bring a greater equilibrium to the priorities raised.
Why do we still need to promote the idea that women can and should be actively engaged in society, whether at a local, national or international level? Will there ever come a time when this idea is simply taken for granted?
We must continue to work towards the establishment of equal opportunities and acceptance for women at all levels of society, particularly in a leadership or representational capacity, simply because in a democracy, each and every citizen must be able to be actively engaged in society.
The journey towards equal and equitable participation by men and women is ongoing, and it will take time. Nevertheless, much progress has already been made over the course of the past decade in increasing women’s presence in politics and lawmaking. Within the Commonwealth alone, up to 24 member states have shown a significant increase in female parliamentary representation, many falling within the 20 to 30 percent target range. The international community as a whole is making a united effort to continue to maintain and further the integration and engagement of women in all aspects of society, most notably through the UN Millennium Development Goal that focuses on gender equality, and the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015. If we continue along the path that has already been forged, eventually we will get to the point where quotas will be filled naturally and any sense of tokenism – which may continue to linger – will fade away, so that a strong female presence in political and business spheres will not only be accepted, but it will be expected.
What in your opinion are the most effective ways to achieve greater equality between women and men? What can the Commonwealth do to ensure that women and girls are treated equally within its member states?
Gender mainstreaming is key to the attainment or improvement of gender equality. By definition, this means assessing the repercussions for both men and women when developing legislation, policies or programmes, so that the issues and concerns specific to each gender will be addressed equitably, ultimately leading to gender equality. My own administration, in Trinidad and Tobago, took its first historic step towards ‘gender budgeting’ in our annual fiscal policy by incorporating a gender perspective into last year’s budget. In this way, I hope to respond to the needs of both men and women, so that our budget might facilitate the achievement of gender equality.
We cannot forget that preconceived gender- based stereotyping also stems from the socialisation process, which begins in the home, and so gender sensitivity training in our education systems is also crucial, so that children and young people are taught from an early age about human rights and gender equality.
For their part, the various organs of the Commonwealth are invaluable in acting both as a watchdog and as a source of guidance for member states. The Plan of Action for Gender Equality has done a great deal already to sustain and promote gender mainstreaming in member states, with success. The pioneering Gender Responsiveness Budget programme has been implemented in some states, promoting the equitable distribution of funds to both men and women. Similarly, the 30 percent target quota for women in political and decision making positions set by the Commonwealth has had a very positive response from member states. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s model legislation on gender based violence has also been embraced by some 11 Caribbean countries, which have drawn on this model to put laws in place to address this issue.
Of course, CMAG [the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group] must also play a fundamental part in ensuring that all members uphold the values of democracy, which call for gender equity and equality. They must hold firm in this endeavour in order to ensure that no violation of these human rights should take place within the Commonwealth.
What might be the main benefits of promoting the education of girls in developing countries?
Education is the foundation that will allow girls in developing countries to see their value, and to learn that anything is within their grasp. We cannot expect girls and women to reach their full potential without providing them with the same educational opportunities as boys. As a former minister of education, university lecturer and teacher, I myself can attest to the inestimable value of education in breaking down the societal and psychological barriers that may hold girls and young women back. It is therefore crucial that girls be given the same priority as boys in accessing a formal education at all levels.
The school curriculum must also be adapted so that girls are given access to all subjects, and so that gender stereotypes are not perpetuated. Education is the mechanism which can best remove any pre-existing prejudices in both boys and girls, which they may have in their home environment, and it is therefore the most effective way to install modern, more inclusive values into the up and coming generations and society as a whole.
Throughout your career you’ve achieved many firsts – Trinidad’s first female Attorney General, the first female leader of the United National Congress party and now the first female Prime Minister. As a woman, how difficult was it for you break into Trinidadian politics and rise to the top and what obstacles did you encounter specifically as a result of your gender?
I was very fortunate in that I lived in the most developed, and one of the most modern, forward-thinking countries in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago is a strong, rapidly maturing nation, which has showed a great acceptance and enthusiasm for the engagement of women in society, and this played a great part in facilitating my career. In a much more tangible way, a lack of funding and party support to promote women’s campaigns, as well as a distinct lack of recognition for women’s success stories and contributions to society, all add to the societal pressures which discourage women from pursuing political careers. However, I hope that the fact that women comprise 27 percent of the tenth parliament of Trinidad and Tobago will act as a clear indicator to all of our young women and girls that these are all difficulties and challenges which can be faced head on, and overcome.
You’ve been quoted as saying that Trinidad “must face the widening gap between the liberated, modern, independent women and our traditional men”. How do the attitudes and actions of these ‘traditional men’ impact upon society, and what do you think can be done to bridge the gap you have identified?
There is a small proportion of men in Trinidad and Tobago who may still hold outdated, traditional mindsets with relation to women’s role in society. This, of course, impacts upon women of this generation and the next, in that they too may feel restricted or limited to what their options may be for a career, or for their designated gender specific role, particularly in rural areas. However, the ‘gap’ between our liberated women and traditional men was in fact referenced to indicate the opposite. Trinidad and Tobago finds itself filled with girls and women consistently outperforming men in almost every sphere of life, from primary school straight through to the highest professional echelons, regardless of ethnic or cultural background.
I am extremely proud to say that throughout the nation, a rapidly increasing and consistent percentage of women have found financial independence and professional success. I believe that this is a strong indicator of the mature, modern society of Trinidad and Tobago. Nevertheless, the point is not for women to be better than men, but equal, and so my administration must look now to rectify this imbalance, whereby our young boys and men are underachieving and falling behind the girls and women. Indeed, we must remember that the issue at hand, when we look at gender equality, is not to raise women above and beyond men, but for every citizen to enjoy the same opportunities in an egalitarian, democratic society.
