Friday, as part of the International Women's Day, at the National School of Public Administration (ENAP), the Prime Minister, Evans Paul in the presence of Yves Rose Morquette, Minister for the Status and Rights women (MCFDF) and the Canadian Ambassador to Haiti, Paula Caldwell St-Onge, has launched the "Gender Equality Policy - women's empowerment", an initiative of the Ministry for Women.

In his speech, the Head of Government stated, addressing the Minister Morquette "[...] Allow me to present to you and your colleagues my warmest congratulations for this laudable initiative 'Gender Equality Policy - women's empowerment' This theme is especially dear to this government that I lead, that gender equality has always been one of its main concerns. [...]

The Government can not remain indifferent to such an initiative, which supports the democratic goal of our Constitution, of respect for fundamental rights of everyone in general and the principle of equality between men and women in particular. [...]

Dear Minister the Haitian State and Government, which I represent, endorse this framework document [...] The policy that I have the honor of launching today is the result of a participatory process initiated in 2008 with the involvement of all national sectors. I invite all national sectors. I therefore invite all sectors [...] today, to apply in their respective activities, the measures in it, so that, in practice, in 2034, Haiti was inscribed in the concert of nations, as a just, balanced and equal society !"

In her speech, Ambassador Paula Caldwell St-Onge, stressed "Equality between women and men is one of the fundamental principles of human rights and a priority for Canada's engagement in the world and in Haiti [...] We are particularly proud to have contributed to the Haitian government approach to put in place concrete lines of action by the State to promote gender equality [...] Canada is honored to have been part of this harmonious and fruitful collaboration woven over the last seven years between Canadian and Québec experts and executives from the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights [...] You can be assured that Canada will continue to support the MCFDF through our various programs for the promotion of gender equality in Haiti"

HL/ HaitiLibre