International Women’s Day Essay Winner Asher Fawkes Prepares to Travel to the United Nations General Assembly
As the Foreign Minister the Hon Frederick A. Mitchell prepares to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, he looks forward to meeting the winner of the Zonta Club of Nassau’s annual essay competition, which celebrates young voices in honour of International Women’s Day. The overall objective of the competition is to bring awareness to the community and student population on the need to advance the status of women and celebrate the achievements of women on International Women’s Day. The winner and coach of the competition are traditionally given the opportunity to travel to New York to witness the UN Annual General Assembly where issues impacting women and youth are addressed.
Ms. Asher Fawkes, a 15 year old student of Aquinas’ College, the winner of the Essay Competition “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, will be able to witness the launch of UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2024, which is a visual representation of the latest trends on the achievement of gender equality across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ms. Fawkes paid a courtesy call on the Director General Jerusa Ali and Deputy Director General Keva Bain and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19th September 2024. She was accompanied by family and officials of the Zonta Club of Nassau, and the International Culture Wine and Food Festival who sponsor the trip to New York.
(L-R) Director Ruthann Rolle, Zonta Club of Nassau, Deputy Director General Keva Bain, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN Essay Competition Winner, Asher Fawkes, Aquinas College, Director General Jerusa Ali, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Janet Johnson, International Culture Wine & Food Festival, President Michelle Forbes, Zonta Club of Nassau.
Ms. Fawkes, in her winning essay, noted “investing in women is paramount for societal progress. Allocating resources to education, healthcare, and advocacy empowers women across all facets of life.” Addressing violence against women requires a holistic approach, including awareness campaigns, mental health support, and ensuring access to sanitary products: “Ending violence against women is urgent and imperative” and “demands swift action”. Ms. Fawkes described the need for “comprehensive awareness campaigns, vigorous legal measures, and providing safe spaces can break the cycle of violence.” She indicated that mentorship emerges as a powerful tool for empowering women and dismantling societal barriers, further pointing out that integrating mentorship programs into schools can foster confidence and skills in young girls, extending beyond academics to shape future leaders for a more inclusive society.