Thread by @Equality242

We're at #CEDAW71, and will live-tweet the session. Minister Frankie Campbell has introduced the delegation, thanked NGOs for contributions, and introduced The #Bahamas as the most beautiful place in the world from space (as noted by astronaut Scott Kelly).

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He is now giving information about the makeup of The #Bahamas -- being an archipelago, having a Family of Islands, and dealing with increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes.

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He has just mentioned that The #Bahamas was successful in its bid to join the #HumanRights Council.

Now talking about the importance of the #SDGs.

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He says he has three daughters, and like "all good fathers," he wants to see women's equality for them.

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He refers to the goals of #CEDAW as "honorable and just." Says it "s a journey, and not a destination."

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"One day, we will be able to lift the reservations of Articles 2a and 9(2)."

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Campbell is talking about the referendum and the no vote.

"The Government of The Bahamas is drafting an amendment to the Nationality Act."

This is to give women the ability to confer Bahamian citizenship on their children, upon application.

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Now mentioning new legislation including the one specific to differently-abled people.

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Campbell is now speaking to "notable achievements" of Bahamian women. These include three women who are captains at Bahamasair, Hanna-Martin chairing a parliamentary association and running for PLP leadership, Butler-Turner leading the Opposition and running for FNM leadership.

The list goes on, highlighting women who have been firsts. Marion Bethel's Triennial CARICOM Award, first female chaplain of the Senate, first female chaplain of the House of Assembly.

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This list is nice to hear, but we know it is not the norm, and does not point to advancement of gender affairs in The #Bahamas.

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Now talking about:
-250% increase in budget for Dept Gender
-Strategic plan for ending GBV
-Updating nat'l gender equality policy (going to Cabinet soon)
-Promote gender equality and women's empowerment in The #Bahamas

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Family Island survey to find out about needs

Financial partnerships with civil society organizations (including Girl Guides, FOAM, Zonta, GGYA, STRAW, CSB, and Bahamas Crisis Centre)

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Still listing what has been/is being done.

Striving to eliminate practices that are discriminatory. Educating children on stereotypes. Reducing spread of STDs through HIV/AIDS Secretariat, targeting vulnerable groups including female sex workers.

Partnering with UN Women to end violence against women.

Mock CEDAW event in September 2018.

Financial partnerships with NGOs and religious organizations' work w/ shelters and counselling services including Great Commission, Salvation Army, Links.

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Refers to training of police to respond to violence against women. Frequency is unclear. Also unclear whether or not this training is mandatory, and for whom.

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65% of PS are women
64% professors at UB
65% of school principals
45% of physicians
75% hospital administrators
23% of police officers
22% of defense force officers
21% of nominated candidates

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Minister is now speaking about health and its budget.

Free ante- and post-natal care
Various types of birth control free of charge
Acknowledges disparity in age of consent and age of access to SRH care.

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Economic empowerment said to be most critical goal of the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development.

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"Will ensure particular needs of Family Island women will be met."

28% of women involved in agriculture are in rural areas in The #Bahamas.

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The statement from the Minister has just come to an end.

The Chair said the Committee members will have the opportunity to pose questions, and the delegation will be able to respond. Expert questions will follow the Articles of the Convention.

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The delegation may say if it is unable to answer a question, and it will have 48 hours to submit it in writing. It would need to be concise and give concrete answers.

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Articles 1 and 2 - Discrimination and Policy Measures

Article 26 missing prohibition of sex-based discrimination. Committee calls the failure of Bill 4 more than regetable, but distressing.

Q: What concrete steps will gov't take now to address this?

Q: Will you set a fixed term for next referendum, and setting years out from general election, and do it in nonpartisan agreement across all parties, and engage civil society in managing the process? Will you reform existing legislation, as w/ Nationality Act?

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Protect women from political discrimination, protect LBTQ+ people from discrimination? For women to pursue redress when experiencing intersectional discrimination, such as migrant women, differently-abled women, and LBT women?

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Committee says this reflect the situation in The #Bahamas, including cultural attitudes.

Q: Are there complaint mechanisms for when women are harmed by stereotypical thinking within judiciary? Is there gender equality training for the judiciary?

What measures are being taken to raise awareness of the Convention? You have not pointed to any specific references to #CEDAW as was asked in our list of issues.

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Committee member now speaking to commitment to ratify Optional Protocol.

Q: Timeline to do that? Any plan to institute a National Human Rights Institute?

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Minister: Democratic nation since 1729. Can't change constitution. "Allowed sensitization to fill in..." Spoke of aggressive campaign; we intend to pursue equality and pursue legislative path which we can control. Cannot give timeline, but likely in 2019.
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"Resounding yes" to including civil society. Reference to monthly meetings with NGOs. Gov't cannot do it alone. Open to NGO and civil society input.

Defers to Jewel Major for legal expertise.

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Jewel Major: AG asked team to review legislation to see which pieces do not have nondiscrimination clause. Ref to Employment Act which includes one and Industrial Relations Act.

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Notable pieces w/o include Education Act (under review).

Now reviewing all laws to ensure nondiscrimination clause is included.

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NHRI: Constitutional Commission recommended Office of Ombudsman in July 2013.
AG's office review bill to ensure Ombudsman has mandate to protect human rights including rights of women and girls.

No comment was made on having NHRI specifically.

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Jewel Major: Has not been official training for judiciary. Has been some pockets of training where judges have come.

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Committee Member: Consider construction of official training for judiciary, not only on CEDAW, but also gender training, VAW, elimination of stereotypes and biases? There are good practice examples from other jurisdictions.

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Committee: Is human rights law part of the core curriculum at the University?

Re: nondiscrimination on basis of sexual orientation and gender identity - Considering adopting these legislative measures to offer comprehensive protection against?
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Major: Yes, human rights is part of the law program.

Campbell: Each Minister to have appreciation of conventions and rights are inclusive of all Ministries, not just in Social Services.

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Campbell: Mindful of shortcomings, and open to recommendations to improve and come into compliance.

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Campbell: Culturally, some concepts are new to us, and the gov't has commitment to sit and talk, to come to an understanding, to ensure we can all coexist in harmony.
(Re: SOGI issues)

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Director Jacinta Higgs speaking on personal way she sees nationality/citizenship issue as one whose granddaughter can access Nigerian citizenship as her father is Nigerian. Notes she has held position for 90 days.

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Saw report and prepared packet for the Minister and asked him to go to Cabinet with it. Favorable response. Made appt to see PM. Will return to him to make requests.
Prepped statement from Minister to read in Cabinet.

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Higgs: Office of the First Spouse - Met with her to talk about what she is needed to do for the Dept. Also met with U.S. Embassy Charge.

Working so it does not appear the govt is pushing equality on the Bahamian people.

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Committee member: Beyond the possibilities you talk about what is women's experience like day-to-day? What about Family Island women? Small communities, how do people present complaints and know they are safe?

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Minister: Always possibility of stigmatization. Saw this w/ HIV/AIDS epidemic where people were reluctant to come forward, afraid of stigma.

He goes on about value of saving lives greater than stigma attached.

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Minister cont'd: Speaking to sensitization and empowerment.
"Remove that spirit of dependence" on husbands and close relatives providing $$ assistance. Better opportunity to report when independent.

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Minister: Through education, there will be less thought of the stigma and more concern about the individual human right.

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Jewel Major: Most islands have resident magistrate. Also video conferencing to hear matters.

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Articles 3 and 4 - National Machinery

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Esther is speaking to paying attention to disadvantaged women. Asks about RISE and how it affected women living below poverty. Lowered 12.8% of poverty in The #Bahamas.

Please note that RISE was DISCONTINUED last year with no explanation. It did not run long.
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Committee Member: If it took 39 years to appoint for woman to caption, what are your plans going forward? Women excluded from contributing to food security. Is implementation of CEDAW sole responsibility of nat'l machinery?

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Q: When will nat'l strategic plan and policy be implemented? What templates are in place to serve as framework for compliance with #CEDAW? Any good indicators or gender-responsive approach?

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Article 4 - Temporary Special Measures

Problematic that there is no quota. Additional opportunities and entry points for women needed. Leadership course is welcome, but participating number is too few for significant change in political landscape of country.

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Q: Any innovative temp. special measures beyond politics? Any that you recognize you need? Use data on sexual offenses to establish patterns and problems? Systematic services to reduce VAW?

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Q: Any STEM focus to scholarships? Enable female recipients (56% of beneficiaries) to study in the field? M&E are key elements for temp. special measures.

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Minister yields to Director after noting BAMSI has second cohort, and women were involved in first cohort and graduated.

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Higgs: Dept for only 2 years. Budget $350,000.
Givign background on the change of administration.

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Higgs: References SDGs, Beijing, etc.
Only 5 people were in department. Six new staff. Also, 15 of Urban Renewal staff from Ministry to assist Dept. Specialized training from UN Women (Barbados).
NGOs - Progressive thrust to work with them. Gave funding.

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Higgs: Need for tech support in research, data collection.

Spoke to Director of IGDS about getting assistance. Also asked UB for assistance with research.

Nat'l Women's Advisory Council to help with public education.

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Hired former Sptndt of Police with speciality on GBV.
working on branding of the dept.

Nat'l Gender Policy - Expired; reconvened experts from UB and Caribbean countries to update the document.

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Higgs: RISE was a pilot project. 5-year timeline.
Required certain targets, data, etc.
Came to an end; aspects of it continue; still have card and people getting $$. Will need help to fulfill requirements.

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Higgs: Need for quota guidelines.

UB course was good; 40 women participated. Planning conclave of women interested in running, sponsoring, training - Nat'l Women's Week in November. Aiming for 300 women.

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Higgs: Giving thousands of dollars of equipment, grants, training opportunities to only women in four Family Islands, giving small grants to start small businesses. Did survey - said health, education are fine; economic empowerment requested.

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Committee: Must work against time. Timebound goals critical. Accelerate efforts. Temp special measures - need, use, and application is the focus. Need understanding of the concept of temporary special measures and how deployed in differetn sectors.

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Please excuse our typos. We are typing fast, trying to keep up with the dialogue.

Cmtte: Need to have a "fit for purpose national machinery."
"You need a dynamic, fit for purpose team that is able to engage issues across sectors so when you set your targets, you have people who have oversight..."

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Need people with substantive understanding of the issues. CEDAW will be difficult without the right team. Gender needs to be fully embedded.

How do you ensure you have the staff, structure, schedule of duty, and partnership...

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Article 5-6, VAW, stereotyping

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Cmtee: Masculinty authority tied to religious beliefs, misogyny. Girls forced to carry out sex acts for small amounts of money. Some believe VAW is acceptable. Limits progress of women.

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Q: Why has the state been so passive in addressing prejudices in society w/ high level of education? Civil servants not trained enough on use of stereotypes? Are they sanctioned or punished? Plan to educate citizens on discriminatory stereotypes?

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Cmtte: Domestic violence (considered private matter) and tolerance of it, violence against children (physical punishment which triggers violence later), some women at greater risk, LBTI+ women who often are afraid to report

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Refers to General Recommendation 35.

When will draft bill be reworded?

Law on sexual crime (2014) - marital rape not included. Are you going to use national standards to modify this law? Drastic measures against child abuse, given dominant presence?

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Article 6 - Trafficking and prostitution

Transit and destination country for victims from Haiti, Cuba, Jamica, and others. Most common form is sexual exploitation. Do you have a definition of human trafficking? Sometimes confused with trafficking in migrants.

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Cmtte: Speaking about false promises of work; falling prey to traffickers due to no documents. How can you solve documentation problem? Can ask for permanent residence in The #Bahamas? Are there offers of services, including translation?

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Cmtte: Prostitution is a crime, but law protects victims; fears of being kicked out, rather not indicate who forced them into it. How do you ensure they work with police? Any programs to assist people in leaving this work behind? Will you decrim sex work?

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Cmtte: Children born in The #Bahamas to non-Bahamians at particular risk. How are you protecting them?

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Higgs: Need to fortify funding for NGOs; need nat'l gender policy which is well laid out; cultural and spiritual experiences mean many lingering stereotypes; references stereotypes curriculum.

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Higgs: Reclaiming Our Boys is a key program; program for children who experienced violence through Bahamas Crisis Centre; there is teaching and therapy; QC evening institute program on 7 effective habits of families

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Higgs: LBTI+ conversation new, evoked by referendum; met with LBTI+ communities recently

Note: We are not aware of any meeting. Erin Greene and Alicia Wallace both surprised to hear this.

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Jewel Major: Robust consultation on marital rape bill; discussing wording used which does not call it rape. Two islands to be visited before end of year. No dispute that it happens and should be punished.

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Minister: State is not passive toward any kind of violence; invested to reduce all forms of crime; not satisfied with level of crime; proliferation of firearms; porous borders make it a challenge for us; transit state for many things

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Minister: Corporal punishment is a last resort; ensuring a female is present to avoid issue of abuse

Threat of harm is acted on, there is prsecution for it.

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Cmtte: Clear there is political will. Re: UPR before HRC; Has implementation of strategic plan started?

Some #HumanRights defenders feel insufficiently supported. Aware that measure might need to be take for free speech? Safety?

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Cmtte: Not questioning political will, but reading press, saw comments about "asking for it"; need institutional voice to say not accurate/appropriate

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Cmtte: Do you plan to follow up on recommendation from Special Rapporteur on trafficking - having someone specifically work on it?

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Cmtte: Marital rape is not addressed as rape bc of limitation of definition; law under revision; will be recognized as "aggravated spousal abuse"; better to define as rape bc rape is rape regardless of relationship

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One-year limit to report marital rape limits women's access to justice; it takes women a longer time to leave an abusive relationship.

Minister: This is just a step; consensu it is a crime; will continue convo to have it "properly labelled"

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Minister: Speaking to issue of women migrants; acknowledges that his mother is Haitian; diplomatic representation in The #Bahamas; speedy repatriation; victims not held in criminal section of detention center.

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Higgs: Minimum to implement strategic plan, $9 million; outlines 10 low-hanging fruit; referencing programs through Catholic church for men who are perpetrators; $20k proposal to expand that program

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Minister: No secret that minority group has a difficult task of convincing majority; not all of us aware that "one person's rights stop where another person's rights begin"

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Minister: Voices are heard, allowed, and permitted; we need others to respect those voices

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Articles 7 and 8 - Political and public life, int'l representation

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Cmtte: Upper chamber, from 4 to 7 women, almost doubled; lower house has not faired as well; low proportion decreased; 22 in 2012 to 28 in 2017; women remain underrepresented in political and public life. Strategies to intensify efforts?

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Q: What strategies in place to create enabling environment for disadvantaged women?

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Article 9 - Nationality

Cmtte: Pity that gov't did not remove reservation on Art. 9.; pity that referendum failed; has not developed proper understanding of equality; no rights, judicial remedies

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Cmtte speaking to remaining discrimination in the constitution; some people are left stateless because of this.

Hofmeister is laying out the situation we attempted to address in the referendum of 2016.

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Cmtte: Detention, deportation, problems with access to education and healthcare; foreign investment welcome, but foreign-born people with Bahamian mothers are not; What will be done to help these people?

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Cmtte: What will be done to prepare and enable voters ahead of a third referendum? Describe obstacles for single Bahamian mother to register birth of children? How will domestic legislation be corrected with the goal of gender equality?

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Minister: Do not view as stateless. Person has option of nationality of parents until turning 18 to apply for Bahamian citizenship; option to apply for Belonger status for access to banking, education, travel
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Minister: Stateless people are second generation because Haiti does not give citizenship of parents; actively pursuing means to address

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Jewel Major: Single Bahamian can pass on citizenship; married to non-B does not pass on when born elsewhere; can apply

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Jewel Major: Asks for 48 hours to get statistics on number of stateless people in The #Bahamas.

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Higgs: Repeats plan for conclave in November; says no legal impediment to women participating in politics

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Higgs: Emphasizes need for training for women wanting to participate in politics; says Civil Society Bahamas met the Dept, and Vice Chair serves on CEDAW Working Committee; $$ granted

Note: We have no knowledge of this committee.

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It is interesting that we have heard nothing from Civil Society Bahamas about about a CEDAW Working Committee or its participation on it, and that the Department has sent no information about it to its mailing list or those it has met w/ in its monthly events.

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We note that Bahamas Women's Watch -- focused specifically on CEDAW for years -- has no knowledge of this CEDAW Working Committee.

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Article 10 - Education

Any programs for adult women? Who are the women that drop out and are left behind? Family Islands? Migrant women? How can gov't reintegrate them into school system?

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If passports are needed to attend school, how does that work? What is Mins. of Ed doing about this? Diff between public and private education systems? Internet access?

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Q: Gender-bias in schools? Options for girls and boys? Are girls pushed to learning hairdressing while boys pushed to carpentry (which affects income)?

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Cmtte also asked about changing to curricula and textbooks, and how teachers align with it. How does gov't know what is being taught in schools? Especially scattered across islands?

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We are now on lunch break until 9am EST. When we get back, we will look at Articles 11 and 12, and then get State responses.

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