Event planned to celebrate equality

17 May 2021

An event celebrating the extension to Jersey of the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) will take place on Friday 28 May.

The event will be hosted by the Minister for Social Security, Deputy Judy Martin, and the Minister for International Development, Deputy Carolyn Labey.

Baroness Berridge, the UK Minister for Women, Her Excellency Yamina Karitanyi, the Rwandan High Commissioner to the UK, and Dragan Nastic, a senior representative from UK Unicef, will be taking part in the event.

CEDAW was extended to Jersey earlier this year and is the core United Nations Human Rights treaty, which aims to eliminate discrimination against women and girls around the world.

In line with Covid-19 guidelines, a limited number of guests have been invited to attend the event in person. Guests include representatives from local women's organisations and members of the States Assembly. Islanders will be able to attend virtually via the Government's social media.

Following introductory speeches, there will a panel discussion on the role of CEDAW in reducing discrimination against women and girls around the world and how it can be used to drive forward change in Jersey. Questions will be taken from guests both online and in-person.

A video created by the Government will be premiered, called Women in Jersey, in which Islanders share their experiences of what it is like to be a woman in the Island, the issues they face, and how CEDAW can help make progress on gender equality.

Deputy Judy Martin said: "I am pleased that this event can now go ahead, and we can celebrate the extension of this important Human Rights treaty to Jersey.

"As an Island, we are committed to gender equality and this is a great opportunity to raise awareness of CEDAW, the work that we are doing to improve women's rights, and address what more needs to be done."

Deputy Carolyn Labey said: "I have been pursuing the work and extension of CEDAW to Jersey for many years and therefore I am delighted to be co-hosting this event as this work finally comes to fruition and to be taking part in the panel discussion.

We will cover the role of CEDAW in reducing discrimination against women around the world and how it will make a positive change in Jersey. I would encourage Islanders to attend the event virtually and put forward their questions to the panel."

Islanders can join the live event between 12:00- 14:30 on the day by following the links on the Government's social media pages.