BAHAMAS DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
WOMEN’S BRANCH

The Bahamas Democratic Movement recognises the achievement of women in education, religion, politics, sports, in the family, workplace and medicine. As such, the Women’s Branch of the BDM will seek to further enhance the achievement of women through the following premises:

•  Women are important in the development of the nation

•  We recognise the contribution of women to the family and community

•  Ensure that women are integrated into all facets of society, thereby creating an environment conducive to the development and growth and improving the overall standard of living.

GOALS

To enhance the overall development of women.

 Protect their health, promote their education, and encourage their economic contribution.

 Protect the health of adolescents, and encourage responsible behaviour and combat HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

 To foster spiritual and moral values among women.

 To eliminate all forms of discrimination among women.

 To recognise and protect the rights of women.

 To eradicate all forms of violence against women.

 Protect and promote the integrity of the family.

 OBJECTIVES:

•  Full and equal participation of women in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life at all levels and the eradication of all forms of discrimination (race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin or other status). All humans are born free and equall in dignity and rights.

•  Women have the right to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing, housing, water and sanitation.

•  Empowerment of women, and the elimination of all kinds of violence against women.

•  Eliminate the cultural acceptance of using violence to resolve conflict.

•  Create "sanctuaries" (safe houses) for women (inclusive of teenagers, drug abusers and prostitutes) when they have nowhere to go. We will seek to partner with government, churches and the community at large on this project.

•  Education is a cornerstone of women’s empowerment because it enables them to respond to opportunities, to challenge their traditional roles and to change their lives. Women’s education has a significant impact on poverty, improving child health and reducing infant mortality and family size.

•  Enact and enforce laws and policies that promote gender equity and equality, and that prevent and prohibit violence and discrimination of all types, including violations based on gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, and HIV/AIDS or refugee status.

•  Establish a legal framework that guarantees all women, regardless of age or marital status, access to information to make informed decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion, and violence.

•  Universal access to health-care services, including those related to reproductive health care, which includes family planning and sexual health.

•  Children has the right to be cared for, guided and supported by parents, families and society and to be protected by appropriate legislative measures, from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse and neglect or negligent treatment.

•  Institute policies and programmes that promote a realistic and fair balance of responsibility for children between men and women. Men (as well as women) should be taught to see the care of children as an honourable and necessary task.

•  Provide training for teachers, school officials and health pro-fessionals at all levels so that they may properly identify, treat and refer victims.

•  Support young people and recognize their sexual and reproductive rights and address specific sexual and reproductive health needs of young women.

•  Support young ladies to develop self-identity and self-esteem so that they can make their own choices about sexuality in their best interest with respect for others.

•  Promote development of programmes and policies that broaden young ladies’ access to skill training, economic opportunities, recreation and other social activities.

•  Work with school authorities and policy makers to ensure that pregnant schoolgirls can continue their education, either in school or through special programmes, and to foster responsible and supportive behaviour by the fathers.

•  Work with the media, especially those popular with young people, to portray positive images of sexuality and gender equality, as well as concrete information on where they can go for information and services.

•  Foster spiritual values by working with organised churches to enhance spiritual development through social and community outreach programmes.

•  To provide sweeping legislation to revise laws relating to incest, molestation and other unlawful sexual acts.

•  To provide proper health care centers and recreational outlets for the aging and to address these issues:

Adequate income

Best possible physical and mental health

Suitable housing

Restorative services for those who require institutional care

Opportunity for employment

Retirement in health, honor, dignity

Pursuit of meaningful activity

Efficient community services

Immediate benefit from research knowledge to sustain and improve health

and happiness

Freedom, independence and the free exercise of individual initiative

To meet the following needs for the mentally ill and physically challenged:

• To enforce community work for minor offenders along with rehabilitation programs and job placement.

•  Counseling facilities, housing, proper treatment and job placement for alcohol and drug abusers.

•  Implement meal plans in all public schools.

•  Educate women to their rights and responsibilities as a patient at clinics and/or hospitals.

•  Provide services to aid in critical developmental periods such as birth, death, entry into adolescence, marriage, job change, menopause and retirement.