Sarah Wescot-Williams Chairs 3rd International Gender Equality Conference in Ghana, Urges Global Action

Sint Maarten's President of Parliament Leads Global Gender Equality Dialogue

Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, the esteemed President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, took center stage at the 3rd International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE 2025) held in Accra, Ghana, from November 20 to 22, 2025. Serving as the conference chair, Wescot-Williams delivered a powerful address, calling for urgent global action to accelerate gender equality, particularly in an increasingly digital world. Her leadership at this significant international gathering underscored Sint Maarten's commitment to advancing the global gender equality agenda.

A Resounding Call for Action in a Digital Age

In her address, Wescot-Williams emphasized that thirty years after the landmark Beijing Declaration, its promise remains 'unfinished'. She stated unequivocally, 'Every barrier to women and girls' equality anywhere becomes a threat to all of us, everywhere.' The President of Parliament welcomed the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, highlighting its critical priorities, which include closing the digital divide, eliminating violence against women and girls, advancing economic opportunity, promoting climate justice, and ensuring greater participation in decision-making processes. However, she cautioned that 'without financing and gender-responsive data, commitments remain rhetorical.'

Navigating the Digital Divide and Systemic Challenges

A significant portion of Wescot-Williams' speech focused on the profound impact of the digital revolution. While acknowledging technology's potential to accelerate equality, she also warned of its capacity to deepen existing disparities. She pointed out that women are less likely to access mobile internet, girls are underrepresented in STEM fields, and online harassment continues to silence women's voices. 'The digital divide is not only about access; it is about power, who designs technology, who controls data, and who benefits from innovation,' she asserted. She urged delegates to perceive ICGE 2025 not merely as an event, but as a 'movement' towards tangible change.

Sint Maarten's Amplified Voice on the Global Stage

Wescot-Williams' role as Chairperson of the 3rd International Conference on Gender Equality placed Sint Maarten and the wider Caribbean region firmly in the global spotlight. Her participation amplified the region's perspectives on pressing issues such as climate justice, digital inequality, care economy reform, rising violence, and the accelerating threats to gender equality. The conference, held under the theme 'Charting the Next Frontier to Advance Gender Equality in Developing Economies in the Post–30 Years Beijing Declaration Era,' convened over 850 in-person delegates from 39 African countries and more than 2,000 virtual participants, including policymakers, academics, and gender advocates from across Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America.

Commitment to Dismantling Inequality

Concluding her impactful address, Wescot-Williams issued a powerful call to action: 'Let us be the generations that do more than diagnose inequality—let us be the generations that dismantle it. Equality is the destination. Technology is the vehicle. And our responsibility begins now.' Her message resonated with the conference's objective to foster collaboration, spark innovation, and empower participants to reshape societies for a more inclusive future, serving as a strategic response to the 69th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in 2025 and the enduring legacy of the Beijing Declaration.