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Happy Women’s Day 2024
The Ramphal Institute is pleased to share its address for International Women’s Day 2024 delivered by Hon. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Belize. The address may be viewed here https://youtu.be/3jI9HYXo_XU and a narrative of the address can be read below.
Dear friends and colleagues in Belize and the Commonwealth – on Friday 8 March 2024 we once again celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme Inspire Inclusion.
This is a fitting theme and it celebrates not only the diversity and empowerment of women all over the world but also their cultural, economic, political and social achievements and the progress that has been made around women’s issues and rights. Yet, despite all the achievements and progress made by and for women, there remains much that needs to be done to break down persisting barriers, challenge stereotypes, and remove myriad risks and threats.
In this time of significant global challenges – including climate change; deepening political polarisation; expanding geo-political tensions and the eruption of new tensions in various parts of the world; rising cost-of-living pressures; persistent challenges in the workplace; and demographic and technological shifts it is important the we continue to educate and inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion in all efforts to forge a better world.
To ensure that true gender parity is achieved in all facets of work and life it is only fitting that we continue to work collectively and individually to embrace women’s diversity of age, ability, body image, faith, and race, among other things. This year’s Women’s Day campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving not only gender equality but in creating conditions and environments where all women, especially the marginalised and voiceless, are valued and respected.
I want to close by thanking women everywhere for everything you have done to make this world a better place, for addressing the myriad challenges we face, and for continuing to work together to create a better Belize, a better Commonwealth, and a better world. Thank you. Thank you sincerely.
And Happy Women’s Day to women across Belize, the wider Caribbean, Commonwealth member states, and the entire world.