CONTACT: Mahreen Nabi, Communications T: 345.326.3468 E: [email protected] W: http://www.bpwgcm.org/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1st 2020 PRESS RELEASE Annual Candlelight Dinner Highlights The Responsibility of Individuals As Changemakers The Business and Professional Women’s Association of Grand Cayman recently held its Annual Candlelight Dinner. Traditionally held to install officers of the incoming board of directors, this year’s event took on a three-fold role to install the officers, engage the greater community and inspire those attending to take action. The packed room of 120 guests included many notable BPW supporters including: - The Honourable Governor Martyn Roper - Elisabeth Roper, Official Patron of BPW Grand Cayman - The Honourable Barbara Connolly, MLA - Susan Anne Olde, OBE, Philanthropist - Annie Multon, businesswoman and Founding Member of BPW Grand Cayman The tone for the evening was set with host, Mahreen Nabi of Acorn Media (BPW Communications officer), asking guests to align their interactions with a core principle of BPW: to come together without pretense or prejudice, and to connect with each other with an underlying base of kindness and compassion. A presentation highlighted the history and work of BPW Grand Cayman since it was founded in 1976. “Although BPW International has only recently aligned their projects and work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, BPW Grand Cayman, has always worked in the community towards these goals - addressing social justice issues by executing on-the-ground initiatives, while advocating for policy changes as well.”, shared Mahreen. BPW GCM President Andrea Williams provided recognition to three woman who had volunteered to be guest speakers for BPW during the COVID lock downs: • Mrs. Olde • Pilar Bush, Vice-President of Marketing and Communications, DART • Dani Coleman, Director, Hazard Management Cayman Islands “Each of these women, respected in their own professional capacities, and also all leaders in the pandemic response, still took time out of their schedules to support the work of our club during lockdown, and that was invaluable in keeping our members motivated to pivot our initiatives to find success in this new normal” she offered. The highlight of the night was a keynote address from Madam Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale. Speaking publicly for the first time since her return to Cayman, guests were treated to a memorable, impactful and inspiring speech. As guest speaker at the BPW Candlelight in 1998 and 2003, she thanked the club for (then and now) inviting her to share her perspective on how members of the Club and indeed, the women in the Cayman Islands, could help bring about positive changes in the community by getting Government to act. Known for her passionate advocacy in the areas of juvenile crime, domestic violence, the treatment of the mentally ill who come into conflict with the law and other complex social issues, Madam Justice Ramsay pivoted from the question of how to get governments to respond to citizens’ concerns to a message of personal accountability and community resourcefulness. In addressing the real question posed, which was how to bring about societal change, she offered the following key notes: o It is tempting to think that the solutions to all of society’s problems can be solved by getting Government to act, whether by passing a law or implementing a policy, but experience shows that passing new laws is not enough, as changes in the law do not change behaviour, without more. Changes in behaviour occur through education, engagement and support. o “It is human nature to look outwardly, to blame our problems on other people or look to others to solve our problems, instead of taking personal responsibility. We have a choice to make. When you choose to take responsibility for your life and your experience it becomes a source of personal power.” o “In the same way we can be vectors for diseases such as Covid-19, passing illness from one person to another, we can also be vectors for ideas, passing them from one person to another, because ideas, like diseases, can be infectious. And just like diseases, ideas can be vectors of disruption” and lead to change…We can all be changemakers”. o “The way you get change is through advocacy, and by advocacy I mean engaging in activity intended to influence decisions within political, economic and social institutions: media campaigns, public speaking, commissioning and publishing research, or simply talking to others about your ideas. That’s where it all starts”. o “Two local examples of this are the campaign to stop the cruise port development and more recently the two young women who fought for the right to have their partnership recognised. It doesn’t matter what side of the debate you’re on. My point is that a small group of people - or even two - who are determined, focused and resourceful, can bring about change.” o “Most social advocacy succeeds, not because the advocates for change take a government to court, but because the advocates for change use civic engagement to build momentum and collective action. Be advocates and win the wider public to your cause. Let your voices be heard not just in the lunchroom, but in boardrooms and in public spaces. Public opinion can not only shape society’s values, it can shape public policy.” Tying her comments in with the question posed by BPW about how to advance the Sexual Harassment Bill, championed by BPW, into law, Justice Ramsay-Hale made the point that even in jurisdictions where sexual harassment laws are in place, it is still rife and encouraged members to “lobby government, but also raise public awareness about the damage this behaviour causes.” Proposing a working definition of sexual harassment as ‘unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that violates your dignity, makes you feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated’, behaviour that creates hostile workplaces, Madam Justice Ramsay-Hale noted that, “Hostile workplaces are bad for business and it is commonsense that, since half the workforce is female, it is in everybody’s interest to root [sexual harassment] out...There is a lack of understanding among business owners, even where sexual harassment laws do exist, of how to provide effective remedies for victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, so your charge would be to educate them.” “You don’t have to wait for a law to be passed to lobby businesses to introduce sexual harassment policies. So while you wait for the law to catch up with your concerns, you should be advocating in our workplaces for sexual harassment policies to be introduced.” She also observed that, “Although a sexual harassment law does not exist, many other existing laws can be used to address conduct in the workplace which amounts to a criminal offence. It’s still an offence to indecently assault someone, to use an ITC network to harass by sending sexually explicit texts or to publish pornography and to engage in conduct that causes the victim to suffer psychiatric harm. Noting that “sexual harassment thrives in a culture of silence,” Justice Ramsay-Hale said, “The real question is why, even though these laws exist, such behaviour is not being reported. And the answer is, a lack of education and support.” Making the point that sexual harassment refers to ‘unwanted sexual advances’ she said, in a call for female solidarity that, “If it is wanted, it is not harassment. Too many of our sisters, even in 2020, are prepared to get ahead by exchanging favours. When you as a woman, in 2020 are still relying on your sexuality rather than your merit to get ahead, you are letting the entire team down.” She also noted that, “These issues are not women’s issues. They are men’s issues too. Sometimes framing issues of gender violence as “women’s issues” gives men an excuse to tune out. We should not exclude men from a conversation that is centrally about men. Framing domestic violence as a women’s issue, for example, ignores the boys who are profoundly affected by the men who abused their mothers and sisters, boys traumatised by adult men’s violence. They are victims of domestic violence too.” On a personal note, Madam Justice Ramsay-Hale offered some inspiring insights into her personal journey, juggling a demanding career and young children, the challenges of being a single mother without childcare and more recently, the responsibility of caring for an aging parent while working fulltime, that highlighted that it takes great dedication, sacrifice, perseverance, and resilience to succeed. She noted that, “Most people are only aware of my career progression and not of the real life lived behind it. But like all women, I had to juggle many balls in the air. And I, like many of you, wish I had been able to hold some of those balls closer, for longer.” About BPW Cayman BPW Cayman is a non-partisan charter group of BPW International - a United Nations recognised civil society organisation that is founded in the belief that each woman, as a citizen, must bring to the national policy of her own country, the contribution of forward-looking and constructive thought followed by determined action. It began in 1930 with Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips. She was a visionary and sought to unite women all over the world to fight for gender equality and women's empowerment. She laid the foundation of our organization on a basis of equality with NO discrimination whatsoever regarding religion, language, color, culture, nationality, race and ethnicity. BPW Grand Cayman continues to champion the same principles today. For more information about BPW Grand Cayman, visit www.facebook.com/bpwgrandcayman or www.bpwgcm.org. ends
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