Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 17, 2022 (SKNIS): For this year’s International Women’s Day, which was celebrated on March 08, countries around the world were encouraged to promote the campaign theme #BreakTheBias, a theme the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Minister of Health et al, challenged women in St. Kitts and Nevis to continue.
“I am calling on all of my womenfolk in St. Kitts and Nevis to let us focus on what that theme really means and let us be the ones to ensure that we do break the biases, that we do our part. Let us be the ones making sure that we do not continue the stereotypes; let us be the ones to be pushing and agitating for diversity and inclusiveness. Let us be the ones celebrating women and celebrating the differences and values that they bring,” said Minister Byron-Nisbett on Tuesday’s (March 15) edition of Leadership Matters. “So, my challenge for us as women is to – now that the day is over – put our words into action and ensure that we continue on that part to break the bias.”
Minister Byron-Nisbett said that the 2022 International Women’s Day campaign theme #BreakTheBias highlighted three main areas.
“They wanted us to think of a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. They wanted us to think of a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, a world where differences are valued and celebrated,” she said.
She noted that it is extremely important for biases to be broken because they – whether deliberate or unconscious – “make it difficult for women to move ahead in their careers and even their personal lives.”
Minister Byron-Nisbett said that knowing that bias exists is not enough hence the reason why collective action is needed to level the playing field. She reiterated that women need to actively call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time they see it.