Report on the Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians
The 6th Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians began with a series of inaugural addresses. Some of the highlights from the remarks made are excerpted below.
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Randy Hoback
Member of Parliament of Canada and President of ParlAmericas
"On behalf of the ParlAmericas Board of Directors, I would like to thank Mexico for their hard work in preparing this event. In particular I would like to thank Senator Marcela Guerra … for her dedication and enthusiasm in helping make it the success I’m sure it will be … I thank all of you for taking the time to come and participate and share your experiences and views about this very important topic. I look forward to participating, and to learning from you during the upcoming sessions. I am eager to join you in moving forward on the actions we need to take as legislators to advance gender equality and the participation of women in the political life of the Americas."
Maricela Velázquez Sánchez
Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
"Today we appeal to humanity, to solidarity, regarding the causes and aspirations of women throughout the Americas. For this reason it is essential to respond with loyalty to citizen’s causes and to the social movements of all women, taking on the gender agenda with seriousness and responsibility, as a fundamental part of the legislative agenda in every country and in every region. Women are determined to be participants in the new social, economic, political, and cultural projects of this century. We are convinced that our countries and the whole world need our vision and full participation in order to build settings that are fairer, more democratic, more developed and peaceful."
Raúl Cervantes Andrade
President of the Senate of Mexico
"It is not only an honour but an obligation for me to be here. [Gender] is an issue that one must attend to with deep conviction, because women’s issues are issues for everyone [to attend to], especially men ... If we all thought we were equal there would be no gender policies, there would be a reality in [terms of] gender … But what would that mean? … That women’s voices are heard. That their judicial framework is sufficient. What for? For what has been called substantive equality, or functional equality, or any of the legal terms that has evolved, or what we now call real equality. Why the evolution of the concept? Because equality is not being realized."