Recognizing that there is a need to establish a collaborative space for women in parliament, regardless of party affiliation or chamber, Gender Minister Olivia Grange says work to formalize a Parliamentary Women’s Caucus is underway.

According to Grange, the establishment of the caucus will provide a space “to foster productive dialogue on issues of women’s rights and gender equality, to network, and to take actions that have a positive impact on the legislature, the legislative process, and our country.”

Providing an update on the status of the caucus during her 2022-2023 Sectoral presentation in the Lower House on Wednesday (June 8), she informed: “I recently tabled a motion for the establishment of such a collaborative space: a Bi-Cameral Group of Women Parliamentarians.”

The group will comprise a sessional Select Committee sitting jointly with a similarly established Committee of the Senate. 

The minister noted: “If this motion is approved, it would see the Bi-Cameral Group of Women Parliamentarians becoming a fixture of every Parliament in the future.

“A major development which supports our work to ensure that women are included in decision-making at all levels of society and that women’s issues are given appropriate focus on the national agenda.” 

“If there will ever be a no divide in this parliament, it will be among the women,” said Grange.

In the meantime, she shared that “ParlAmericas is helping to facilitate a retreat with women parliamentarians later this year as we develop mechanisms to ensure that our Bi-Cameral Group of Women Parliamentarians will have the desired positive impact.”