Simpson-Miller The following are excerpts of the Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's message to mark International Women's Day.
Today more women are entering and doing well in so many areas where men used to dominate. Our women are on construction sites as masons, architects, or operators of heavy-duty equipment.
More women are coming forward as leaders in business and in the state sector.
The performance of women and girls in the field of sport continues to be outstanding.
Our women remain a strong and powerful force in community building and in politics, helping to prod, push, reshape and create greater opportunities for advancement.
Big challenges
When we look at these developments and the strides women are making, we can take heart, but we cannot take leave. There are still big challenges and obstacles to be overcome.
These include domestic violence, sexual harassment and poverty, as well as the disrespect shown to our women and girls by the images portrayed in some lyrics, other aspects of popular entertainment and in the media.
The theme chosen by the United Nations for this year's observance, 'Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women', is therefore most relevant.
Violence growing
Violence against women is growing at an alarming rate worldwide. It is growing in Jamaica and it has to stop!
We are signatories to two major international conventions - The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women.
But we could sign a million international conventions and pass a hundred laws, nothing much will change unless every Jamaican woman and man take a stance against those who continue to beat, rape, murder and sexually and carnally abuse the women and children in our society.
Call for end
On this International Women's Day, I put out a strong call to end the physical, sexual and emotional violence against our women and girls.
It is a call to everyone to make a personal pledge to respect the life and the rights of every human being, regardless of gender.
It is a call to clean up our personal relationships and find a way to talk out disagreements, instead of resorting to violence.
I make a special plea to the mothers, daughters, sisters, wives and girlfriends to stand up and speak out. Stop hushing up the shameful acts of terror against other women and girls.
Today, I salute every one of you great Jamaican women who are making such outstanding contributions. Together, in partnership with our brothers, we can stop the violence and remove all other obstacles that keep us back.
