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library2.nalis.gov.tt/greenstone/collect/news3/index/assoc/HASH01eb/f009ceaa.dir/doc.pdf

library2.nalis.gov.tt/greenstone/collect/news3/index/assoc/HASH01eb/f009ceaa.dir/doc.pdf

Caribbean women want gender-sensitive decision-makers

Caribbean women want gender-sensitive decision-makers 

Dr Kris Rampersad in the News

Caribbean women want gender-sensitive decision-makers

by

Thu Jul 07 2011

Kris Rampersad

Adequate maternity and paternity leave for parliamentarians and increases in women's representation in cabinets, parliaments and local governments to a minimum of 30 per cent, and where this has already been achieved to 50 per cent. These are among some 17 recommendations to regional and global governments in a communiqué from regional women leaders which also asks that political parties include a minimum of 40 per cent of either sex on their lists of candidates for parliamentary and local government elections and senatorial appointments. The communique titled the Port-of-Spain Consensus on Transformational Leadership for Gender Equality, was drafted at the Caribbean Regional Colloquium on Women Leaders as Agents of Change held in Port of Spain on June 29 and 30, 2011.

The women leaders are also recommending that governments and political parties:

• Develop and implement initiatives that facilitate women's full participation in all internal party policy-making structures, appointments and electoral nominating processes;

• Review of the criteria and processes for appointments to decision-making bodies in the public and private sectors to facilitate increased women's representation;

• Gender-sensitive leadership training programmes for men and women, including young people who are preparing to assume or are in decision-making positions in the public and private sectors;

• And provision of resources to national gender/women's machineries so they can effectively implement, monitor and mainstream commitments on gender equality.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has already announced the report would be presented at a fringe meeting of global women leaders on the eve of the UN General Assembly in New York in September and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Australia in November.

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VS Naipaul finds no woman writer his literary match – not even Jane Austen | Books | The Guardian

VS Naipaul finds no woman writer his literary match – not even Jane Austen | Books | The Guardian

VS Naipaul's absence has cost this parliament credibility | Hari Kunzru | Books | guardian.co.uk

VS Naipaul's absence has cost this parliament credibility | Hari Kunzru | Books | guardian.co.uk

From UK Guardian 

Hari Kunzru criticises Turkey over VS Naipaul Islam row

This article is more than 14 years old

British writer attacks Turkish record on free speech as he steps in to replace VS Naipaul at opening of literary event in Istanbul

Benedicte Page

Thu 25 Nov 2010 13.31 GMT

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British novelist Hari Kunzru has attacked Turkey's record on free speech at the Istanbul literary event the European Writers' Parliament, describing VS Naipaul's absence from the event "regrettable", and calling for the repeal of the notorious article 301 of the Turkish penal code.

Kunzru stepped into the breach to deliver the opening speech this morning in place of Naipaul, who withdrew from the EWP earlier this week "by mutual agreement" with the organisers following a row over his criticisms of Islam.

Kunzru referred to the Nobel laureate's absence and said: "I feel we would be stronger and more credible if we were to deal with divergent views within this meeting rather than a priori excluding someone because of fear that offence might be given."

The writer also attacked Turkey's record on free speech, citing the cases brought against novelist Orhan Pamuk and editor Hrant Dink under article 301 of the country's penal code, which makes it illegal to insult Turkey, Turkish ethnicity or Turkish government institutions.

Kunzru told the assembled authors: "Pamuk faced trial for giving the following statement to a Swiss magazine: 'Thirty thousand Kurds have been killed here and a million Armenians. And almost nobody dares mention that. So I do.'" He added: "Dink, one of Turkey's most prominent Armenian voices was convicted under article 301 then murdered by a young nationalist, who was subsequently photographed in a police station surrounded by smiling officers, against the backdrop of the national flag. There are many other examples in Turkey of the weapons of offence and insult being used to silence dissent. Turkey is obviously not alone in this, but since we are here, it is important that we acknowledge it."

Kunzru said he believed one of the most tangible and immediate results of the European Writers' Parliament would be to call for the repeal of section 301 "and a declaration that no European writer should have to operate under the threat of similar laws".

The novelist acknowledged that his criticisms risked causing offence, but said: "Our kind Turkish hosts have invited us here, as an international group, to air our views, and so it is my belief that we must not shy away from recognising the situation here, where we are speaking." He added: "It would be absurd to assert freedom of speech in the abstract without exercising it in concrete terms."

Kunzru has been outspoken in the past in defence of his beliefs. In 2003 he refused the award of the £5,000 John Llewellyn Rhys prize for his debut novel, The Impressionist, because it was then sponsored by the Daily Mail. Kunzru rejected the prize because of what he called the paper's consistent "hostility towards black and Asian British people", telling the organisers to give the cash to the Refugee Council.

Hari Kunzru criticises Turkey over VS Naipaul Islam row | Books | guardian.co.uk

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