Every February 18, the OAS family of nations joins us in celebrating The Day of the Women of the Americas, as we commemorate yet another anniversary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM). This year, the anniversary bears a special significance, as we reflect with great pride on the reality that eight decades have passed since the founding of our Commission in 1928 - forged in the smithy of those heady, yet harsh days when female suffrage was still a dream; and women in the Americas faced unspeakable discrimination in all spheres of their existence.

It is with deep pleasure that I extend warm congratulations to all the women of the Americas on this 80th Anniversary of the CIM. We have much to be proud of as the premier inter-governmental agency of the world. Our very ability to celebrate eight decades of CIM history today is only made possible by the myriad sacrifices of many unsung and unstoppable women who were determined to ensure that their rights as women were taken seriously. Today, the universality of female suffrage throughout the hemisphere could unwittingly minimize the courage and strength of the early pioneers and the visionary role they played in ensuring women’s political and civil rights. So, as we reflect on our noble beginnings, we must pay homage to the unflappable leadership of Doris Stevens, one of the founders and the first President of the CIM and the other iron-jawed angels from all of the Americas who refused to genuflect at the altar of gender discrimination.

Through its magnificent history, CIM has transformed the role of women in the Americas and ushered in a quantum leap for the political, economic and civic possibilities that women are able to attain. Generation after generation of CIM delegates have assiduously built on the arduous work of the past to cement the gender agenda at the level of the Americas and beyond. We are particularly mindful that the advocacy of the CIM has been instrumental in promoting and sustaining women’s groups in our Hemisphere as well as in other international fora - such as the Commission on the Status of Women within the United Nations.


Within the Inter-American system, this year is made even more significant when we also acknowledge that 2008 also marks the 60th Anniversary of the formation of the OAS. We salute the remarkable longevity of the CIM, predating the existence of even the OAS. This speaks volumes to the tenacity of the women of the Americas to ensure that gender-based discrimination is eradicated from our midst.

We are cognizant that the gender gap has been addressed and amended in many respects. However, in some cases, pervasive and persistent discrimination against women can still be found throughout our region. Further, violations of women’s human rights still persist – and in some cases, on a disturbing scale. This calls us to vigilance, as we continue to adhere to the objectives and functions of the CIM, working to ensure that each and every woman in the Americas fully enjoys her rights. As part of that portfolio of rights is our engagement with the struggle to eradicate poverty, in conjunction with our commitment to encourage sustainable development in the hemisphere.

As testimony to our remarkable journey, we are moved to express our gratitude to the thirty-four governments who have made progress in strengthening their national machineries for women. We congratulate them on the incredible work that has been undertaken in their respective countries to attain progress in gender equity and equality. We also wish to encourage them to continue to adopt a cross-cutting approach to gender within their respective member states; and well as to interface meaningfully with civil society in this regard.

We also wish to acknowledge the commitment to our work displayed by the ambassadors and alternate representatives of the OAS permanent missions - and by representatives of permanent observer missions to this hemispheric forum, who have driven the agenda for gender equity and equality.

I also commend the support which the CIM has received from the OAS in advancing its work and achieving considerable success in mainstreaming gender throughout the Organization and supporting efforts to embed it within the institutions of the member states.

Further, I am moved to laud and applaud the dedication of the Permanent Secretariats of the CIM, under the able guidance of the various Executive Secretaries of the CIM, who have gone the distance in making a difference at the OAS.

As we commemorate this auspicious anniversary, I acknowledge that there are still miles to go and other milestones to accomplish in achieving full and equal rights for women in the Americas. Nevertheless, coming out of the early days of an endangered environment for women in the hemisphere, we remain solidly assured that the great willingness to embrace the work of the CIM will continue to engender a new hemisphere.

We have indeed come a long, long way in eighty great years!