Minister urges employers towards gender equality

(CNS): Government has launched a public education campaign on gender equality in the wake of the passage of the law earlier this year. The community affairs minister who has responsibility for gender issues said an informed public is necessary to ensure the best use of the law which comes into effect in the New Year. Mike Adam is encouraging everyone to visit the website but pointed employers in particular to the pledge to promote the development of gender equality within their organisation. The new website which forms part of the campaign can be found  at www.genderequality.gov.ky

“Whether they are an employee, employer, service provider or simply in receipt of goods and services, it is to the benefit of any individual to be aware of the provisions of the Gender Equality Law. I would also encourage local employers to take the online pledge and demonstrate to our community, and the world at large, their commitment to making the Cayman Islands a world-class jurisdiction in which to live and work,” Adam urged.

The names of employers, and the ways in which they have committed to ensuring equal opportunities for their employees, will be made public once they take the pledge.

The Ministry also encourages the public to take the four question gender equality poll, by the World Bank, which can be found on the resource page of the new website. The poll provides a quick snapshot of the public’s opinion of gender equality in the Cayman Islands.

The website offers examples of international best practice, and interprets in plain language the Gender Equality Law and provides a social and historical context for gender equality in the Cayman Islands, and highlights a variety of gender equality resources from the Caribbean and the world.  

As well as the creation of the new website local radio, TV and cinema outlets have begun airing public service announcements (PSAs) encouraging members of the public to educate themselves about their rights and obligations under the law.

Senior Policy Advisor (Gender) Tammy Ebanks worked with Government Information Services to develop the public information and education campaign, and will be collaborating with the Civil Service College to develop more training tools in the near future. The Office of the Governor, through an Overseas Territories Programme Fund grant, and the Ministry of Community Affairs had provided joint funding for the campaign materials.

See Gender Equality Law here