NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, and Minister for the Public Service and National Insurance, the Hon. Brensil A. Rolle, departed New Providence Friday (November 8) for Nairobi, Kenya, where they will participate in the International Conference on Population Development’s (ICPD) 25^th Anniversary Meeting.

Their attendance is the result of an invitation from the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA) – a U.N. Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency that also focuses on Gender-Based Violence. The ICPD is a results-oriented Programme of Action that is the steering document for the UNFPA.

Also known as the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, the Meeting takes place November 12-14 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi. The two Ministers were accompanied by their wives, in addition to Mrs. Elaine Sands, one of two Gender-Based Violence Experts at the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development.

Co-convened by the Government of Kenya, the Kingdom of Denmark and the UNFPA, the Meeting is a High-Level Summit that will focus on the recommitment of world leaders to complete the ICPD Programme of Action that was initiated in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994, and in recognition of its “important contribution” to accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030 Agenda.

One hundred and seventy-nine governments adopted the Programme of Action at the Cairo Summit in 1994. The Programme of Action serves as a blueprint for the empowerment of women and girls for their sake, and for the benefit of their families, communities and nations.

The ICPD’s objective is to bring together Heads of States, Government Ministers, technical experts, young people, faith-based organizations, business and community leaders, civil society organizations, grassroots organizations, academics, indigenous persons, persons from the community of persons with disabilities and others “interested in the pursuit of sexual and reproductive health and rights.”

The meeting will cover five themes, among them, sexual reproductive health and rights, financing required to complete the ICPD Programme of Action, ending Gender-Based Violence and harmful practices and drawing the demographic diversity to drive economic growth and achieve the SDGs. Organizers will use an integrated approach highlighting the power of gender equality, youth leadership, political and community leadership, innovation and data, and partnerships to accelerate progress throughout the world.

Minister Campbell said the delegation’s attendance, was an opportunity for The Bahamas to show its continued commitment to the whole question of gender mainstreaming and Gender-Based Violence “and the work we are doing to deal with perpetrators in terms of possible rehabilitation.”

“Secondly, it provides us in The Bahamas with the opportunity to detail the work we are doing with our younger persons who are the next generation, where we believe that if we are to influence a certain mindset, we will be able to prevent much of the abuse, to prevent much of the aggression, and to instill more conflict resolution skills to ensure a better co-existing of the sexes. Our work further includes promoting more partnerships that will result in stronger families which adds up to stronger communities and a stronger nation.”

Minister Campbell categorized Minister Rolle’s attendance at the Meeting as “very important” as the Minister responsible for the 22,000-strong Bahamas Public Service, the majority of whom are female.

“When you talk about Gender-Based Violence, females are the more vulnerable in terms of numbers but many aren’t necessarily aware of the work that is being done to remediate, the work that is being done to reduce, the work that is being done to eradicate Gender-Based Violence in our country and around the world, despite the many efforts of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs in this regard.

“And so Minister Rolle’s attendance as the Minister for the Public Service, responsible for the 22,000-strong Public Service, the majority of whom are females, now provides another avenue for the message to be spread even further about what is being done and how they can become involved, how they can participate to ensure that it does not happen in the workplace.

“There is also the likelihood that Gender-Based Violence occurs outside of the workplace which can affect employees’ – both male and female – lives and productivity and so this provides yet another opportunity to be able to relay the message to persons in the Public Service who themselves may be victims of Gender-Based Violence – both male and female -- that there are safe spaces and persons and/or institutions to whom they can go to for refuge,” Minister Campbell added.

PHOTO CAPTION

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, receives a final briefing from Technical Experts from the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, ahead of the Minister’s travel to Nairobi, Kenya for the International Conference on Population Development’s (ICPD) 25^th Anniversary Meeting. Minister Campbell, was accompanied to Nairobi by Minister for the Public Service and National Insurance, the Hon. Brensil A. Rolle, who participated in the briefing via teleconference. Pictured (from left) are: Miss Allicia Rolle, Gender Officer, Department of Gender and Family Affairs; Mrs. Elaine Sands, Gender-Based Violence Expert, Department of Gender and Family Affairs, who will accompany the two ministers to Nairobi; and Dr. Jacinta Higgs, Director, Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development.   (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)