News Releases

UWI IGDS supports Annual Women’s Rights Rally and March EMBRACE EVERYONE

For Release Upon Receipt - March 8, 2023

St. Augustine


 

 Dr. Angelique Nixon, Senior Lecturer at The UWI IGDS

 

The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. Wednesday, 8th March 2023 – In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), commemorated globally on   March 8th, the public and media are invited to the Annual Women’s Rights Rally & March at the Queen’s Park Savannah (Opposite TGI Fridays) on Saturday 11th March under the theme “Embrace Everyone”.

 The gathering begins at 2:30pm with a short activity to prepare for the walk. The march around the Savannah begins promptly at 3pm, and participants will Rally on the Road with event hosts, the ‘Two Jammetes’. The sidewalks / pavement around the Savannah are wheelchair accessible. Sign interpretation will be available. Persons with specific needs can contact womensrightsrally@gmail.com.

 The Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus joins with its partners to commemorate IWD under the theme Embrace Everyone. Its objective is to spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in all spaces and address the intersecting issues of diversity and representation. The theme promotes a message of inclusivity and cohesion among communities, groups, and individuals, as they seek to recognise and celebrate women and girls. 

 All are invited once again to “Bring Yuh Message and Come”. The 2023 theme pulls from the international theme of “Embrace Equity” and focuses on what it means to achieve gender equality, which must include social and economic equity. Equity extends equality to include fairness and varying levels of support based on individual need or ability. Equity means everyone is provided with what they need to succeed and recognises different circumstances.

 Dr. Angelique Nixon, Senior Lecturer at The UWI IGDS, explains that: “Equality means everyone is treated the same exact way, regardless of differences. Equity demands that we account for what those differences are across society. We are not all the same nor do we have the same needs. We need both social and economic equity to advance gender equality and justice. Social and economic equity is about flexibility, fairness, and justice in access to resources and opportunities. When we call for gender equality we must also account for our differences based on ability, class, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, migration status, religion, and geographic location. This is the hard work of social justice and advocating for inclusion and social change.”

 Following a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, IGDS and partners are looking forward to continue this annual event through an alliance of civil society and women’s rights organisations working together. They will build upon the daring coalition speaking out against violence in 2017 through the Life in Leggings Solidarity Regional March. In 2018, they called everyone to “Speak Your Truth” for empowerment of women and girls. In 2019, the coalition encouraged everyone to “Demand Better for Gender Justice”; and in 2020, we marched for “Power in Action” to Honour, Encourage, Include, and Act for Gender Justice. In 2021, we supported the IWD Walk Out for Women that called for safety for women and girls and lives free of violence.

 This year, the IGDS will build upon previous years and their calls to action are: Celebrate women’s achievements. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action for Gender Justice. Understand that Gender Equality means Social and Economic Equity. They are calling upon everyone to imagine a world that is gender equal and equitable – a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, a world where difference is valued and celebrated. They are calling on everyone to Embrace Equity for Equality.

 The IGDS will also honour the legacy of Hazel Brown and is calling upon all who knew her and all inspired by her to share their memories across social media this week and tag @iwdtt on Instagram and @IWDTrinidadandTobago on Facebook.

 “To achieve the full and equal participation of women and men in our national and regional development as competent human beings, and not property or real estate, then we have to stand up for gender justice” Dr. Hazel Brown (27th October 2017)

 Please share your solidarity messages by tagging the International Women’s Day Trinidad and Tobago Facebook Page @IWDTrinidadandTobago, event page for the Annual Women’s Rights Rally and March or Instagram Page @iwdtt.

 Please join the IGDS and its partners this Saturday 11th March at 2:30pm at the Queen’s Park Savannah (Opposite TGI Fridays) and walk with your signs, loud speakers, banners, flags, musical instruments, and water. Bring your crew and wear your organisation's t-shirts. Bring your family. Everyone is welcome!

 For further details surrounding the event, please contact: womensrightsrally@gmail.com.

 PARTNERS: CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice, Cashew Gardens a Model Community, CiWIL, Family Planning Association of T&T, Feminitt, FireCircle TT, Girl Guides Association, Network of NGOs of T&T for the Advancement of Women, Single Mothers Association of T&T, Soroptimist International (SIPOS), The UWI Institute for Gender and Development Studies, The UWI Guild of Student, T&T Single Mothers Association, Transgender Coalition of T&T, WOMANTRA, Women’s Institute for Alternative Development, Women Working for Social Progress.

 SPONSOR PARTNERS: Australian High Commission, Break The Silence Project, CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice, Family Planning Association of T&T, Feminitt,  First Citizens Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Girl Guides Association TT, Glenda Lindsay-Barratt,,Guardian Media,   Savitree Seepersad, Women’s Institute for Alternative Development, Soroptimist Int'l (SIPOS).

 END

 About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Monain Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hillin Barbados, Five IslandsinAntigua and Barbuda and itsOpen Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu

 

 

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