On Monday, women organizations, parliamentarians, representatives of the international community, in the presence of Simon Dieuseul Desras, President of the Senate, Jean Tholbert Alexis, President of the Chamber of Deputies, Yanick Mézile, Minister for the Status and Rights Women, Ms. Sandra Honoré, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Pamela White, unanimously welcomed the creation of the new Office of gender Equity in the Haitian Parliament.

This office, launched at the initiative of the Deputy Marie Jossie Etienne, marks the beginning of a new more inclusive policy towards women. An initiative supported by the United Nations Development (UNDP), which has inter alia provided computer equipment and of office and already stands ready to provide technical assistance and training on gender and democratic governance.

"This is a historic turning point in the lives of Haitian women. Through this office, the struggle for gender equality continues," declared Ms. Erla Pierre, Director of Parliament.

This new office will be responsible for giving technical support to parliaments across gender analysis of bills on the legislative agenda and make proposals to the Parliament, to ensure the inclusion of women in the laws passed in Parliament, including their compliance with international law.

Among its objectives, the office will also serve as liaison between women's organizations and civil society, will ensure consultation with the various parliamentary committees and make concrete proposals to promote a gender responsive budgeting in Parliament.

"The ultimate goal is that men and women have equal rights to participate in public affairs. Equality is a key factor in building the rule of law in Haiti [...] and I would like to thank all the partners who help us move in that direction," stressed the Deputy Marie Jossie Etienne.

For her part, Sandra Honoré, spoke of the commitment of the country team of the United Nations system. She mentioned the UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017, which considers the promotion of equality and the empowerment of women as one of the highest priorities "Women are agents of change to decide their present and future, they must be at the center of decisions and the forefront of policies to ensure true democracy equitable, inclusive and just. Equality, 3rd of 8 Millennium Development Goals, represents both a means and an end to achieve the consolidation of sustainable development throughout the world."

HL/ HaitiLibre