Minister of Labour Public Administration & Empowerment has just returned from Washington, DC after chairing a successful 2-day Executive Meeting of the Inter-American Commission of Women. The meeting which brought together delegates from the 32 member states of the Organization of American States addressed a wide range of issues including the mandates of the CIM: gender and HIV/AIDS; gender and migration; gender and natural disasters; gender based violence and gender and disability.

In her feature address, CIM President focused on women, youth, Afro-descendants, indigenous people and disabled citizens who suffer disproportionately from the effects of poverty and social exclusion. Quinn-Leandro told her Ministerial colleagues that despite their best efforts racism, sexism and discrimination feed the vicious cycle of poverty and under-development in our hemisphere:

"The fact is that the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean continues to be highly inequitable. Inequality of income, for example, is matched by a highly unequal distribution of productive assets: mainly land, capital, education and technology. Therefore, better access to these critical assets is essential for both growth and equity. I believe that if Latin American and Caribbean countries are to seriously address our multidimensional challenges, it will require uncompromising commitment on the part of member states, which much also include solid and sustained political will to achieving gender equity and equality."

During the Executive Meeting Quinn-Leandro launched a hemispheric Photography Contest as part of the 80th anniversary celebration of the CIM. The Contest held in conjunction with the Art Museum of the Americas (AMA) is an innovative initiative inviting 11 to 14 year old girls from OAS Member States to participate in the Photography contest entitled: 'When I Grow Up…' This contest aims to capture the dreams and visions that young girls have about their future. Through their photographs, the girls will illustrate how the new generation assesses the progress achieved by women regarding our role in society and what is still to be achieved by young women such as themselves when they grow up. The winner will be unveiled in November at the Assembly of Delegates in Chile.

The Executive Meeting agreed that the third Ministerial meeting of Women's Affairs will also be held in Chile in November prior to the Thirty-fourth Assembly of Delegates.

Minister Quinn-Leandro returned to Antigua on Saturday.