The journey towards gender equality was made more visually impactful with the submissions for the UNIFEM Caribbean photo competition launched under the theme "Picture This: UNIFEM Celebrates 30 years of Global Commitment to Gender Equality" in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which came into force in 1979.
Caption: UNIFEM Regional Programme Director congratulating Benjamin Drakes on his winning entry in the UNIFEM Caribbean Photo competition.
University of the West Indies sociology and psychology graduate Benjamin Drakes copped first place with his "Maternal Patriarch" portrait of a female welder on a construction site. Second place went to the entry from the Bureau of Women's Affairs of Jamaica for their capture of men taking responsibility for sexual health in response to the HIV-AIDS pandemic. The winning entries will be featured on the UNIFEM Caribbean website as well as upcoming programme material.
Caption : UNIFEM Communications Specialist (centre) Sharon Carter-Burke makes the presentation to Executive Director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs of Jamaica, Mrs. Faith Webster (second left); and from left Social Worker, Kristal Tucker; Project Officer Siddier Chambers and Director of Community Services Ms. Shirley Duncan.
Drakes explained that he was drawn to the competition given his background in sociology, gender, and social concerns: "At best, Benjamin Drakes is a sociologist, a writer, actor, sometimes a musician and an aspiring film-maker; but where his heart lies most is in taking photographs; visually communicating his narrative of existence."
For his creativity, Drakes was awarded a laptop computer and the Bureau, a new digital camera to enhance their image library as another tool in creating awareness of and advocating for gender equality.
UNIFEM congratulates the awardees and thanks them for their participation in the photo contest, a call to action to continue the movement towards gender equality. Contestants were invited to capture expressions of gender equality and non-discrimination of women in action in the Caribbean, such as images showing boys, girls, men and women challenging restrictive gender stereotypes in the home, community and workplace and living out the values of equality, peace and respect.
All Caribbean countries have ratified the CEDAW which provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life, as well as education, reproductive health, employment, family law, child care, and social security.
CEDAW also promotes the value of shared family responsibilities between women and men and requires social and cultural change with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes.
For further information please contact: Programme Associate Leah Odle-Benson: leah.odle-benson@unifem.org; Tel: (246) 467 6000 ext 6134 or Communications Specialist Sharon Carter-Burke: sharon.carter-burke@unifem.org; Tel 246-467-6000 ext 6124.
