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Sen. Sandiford-Garner addressing the XXXV Assembly of Delegates. Seated are other members of the CIM Executive.
One of Barbados’ own will serve on the executive committee of an influential hemispheric institution for the next two years.
??Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner was recently elected as the Vice President of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), at the XXXV Assembly of Delegates of the Inter-American CIM, which was held in Mexico City from November 3 to 5.
The Senator had served as Barbados’ Principal Delegate to the Organisation of American States/Inter-American Commission of Women (OAS/CIM) from 2008, and after initial lobbying efforts in Washington, she secured majority support for her nominated candidature to the Vice Presidency.
Through this election, Senator Sandiford-Garner will be able to contribute to the development of policies that affect and address gender issues in the hemisphere, and add the Caribbean’s perspective to these issues.
The CIM is a permanent specialised organisation of the OAS and is the principal forum for generating hemispheric policy to advance women’s rights and gender equality.?? Through its influential role within the OAS, it provides support and recognition to national women’s movements throughout the Americas and helps to foster inter-American cooperation.
Barbados last held an executive position on this 82-year-old body in 1992 when the then Principal Delegate, Mrs. Maizie Barker-Welch, was President.??sharifa.medford@barbados.gov.bb