FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner joined in with marking International Women’s Day, which is celebrating the theme of “Equality for women is progress for all” this year.

Commenting on the significance of gender equality, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noted that countries with more gender equality actually have better economic growth. He also highlighted that companies with more women leaders perform better and peace agreements that include women are more durable.

“Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all,” he said.

Mrs Butler-Turner said she strongly endorses these sentiments expressed by the Secretary General.

“That is why this year’s anniversary is especially painful for so many Bahamians, men and women, as female citizens continue to be unequal under the law and the Government’s pledge to bring a remedy to the situation remains an unfulfilled promise,” she said.

“Two years into its term in office and having committed to causing the necessary constitutional referendum to be held to remove the last bastion of discrimination against women from the highest law of our land, the Government has neither brought the necessary legislation to Parliament to remove the offending clauses from the Constitution, nor set a firm date for the required referendum.

“Few can take comfort from this Government’s utterances on women’s rights. The failure of this Government to act on the important issue of removing gender discrimination from the Constitution is all the more poignant as it was the PLP, which so groundlessly, vehemently and regressively opposed the 2002 Constitutional Referendum meant to remove this glaring gender discrimination in our constitution.”

Indeed, Mrs Butler said it seems that for some senior PLPs including some of their Members of Parliament, women’s rights and the abuse of women is something to be laughed about.

“There is nothing humorous or funny about violence against women. There is nothing acceptable about agreeing that some who live among us are less equal than others in enjoying God-given human rights which must include all those rights clearly stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These rights set out in the Declaration include the provision that: “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said that countless women, many unknown to the general public, labour every day to make our country better. They contribute to family and national life as professionals, mothers, volunteers, homemakers and as citizens.

“Many are leading businesswomen and entrepreneurs whose economic value to our country is extraordinary and vital. The well-known women, just as the lesser known and frequently unrecognised, deserve respect. All are entitled to equality before the law. Very specifically, I call on the Bahamas Government to act now to end the sad legacy of inequality that remains in our Constitution.”