CIMA signs Gender Equality Pledge

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) has signed a pledge that means it is committed to gender equality.

Managing director Cindy Scotland signed the Gender Equality Pledge with the Ministry of Education, Employment & Gender Affairs. CIMA is the first organisation in the Cayman Islands to make such a commitment.

Scotland said: “We are extremely proud to be the first institution to express our active commitment to the gender equality principles. We will continually strive to support this effort, and to monitor and enforce the principles of the Gender Equality Pledge.”

Last year, CIMA formalised its gender equality efforts with a large-scale, mandatory training session for all staff on the Gender Equality Law, 2011, which addresses sexual harassment in the workplace and discrimination in employment, training and recruitment on the basis of sex, marital status, pregnancy or gender.

This year, the authority is intensifying its gender equality efforts, ensuring active commitment from top leadership by way of the Gender Equality Pledge.

By signing the Gender Equality Pledge, CIMA has agreed to: promote gender equality in the workplace and equal opportunity in employment-related matters; prohibit discrimination against any person on the grounds of sex, marital status, pregnancy or any characteristic based on gender; and ensure a safe working environment for all employees by prohibiting sexual harassment and taking immediate and appropriate actions to prevent such conduct. 

Tara Rivers, Minister for Education, Employment and Gender Affairs, commended the Authority’s continuing efforts. “I am pleased to see that a Government Statutory Authority is taking the lead to be the first organisation to take the Gender Equality Pledge and publicly commit to continuing to take tangible actions that serve to promote gender equality within the organisation. Implementing family-friendly policies, actively promoting non-discrimination, and creating a safe and professional work environment for all is not only good management practice, it also makes sound business sense because of the indirect financial gains that result from these actions,” she said.

Wayne Panton, the Minister of Financial Services, Commerce and Environment, also congratulated CIMA for signing the Gender Equality Pledge. “Every person has value,” he said. “Every person therefore has the responsibility to give respect, as well as the right to receive it. My Ministry joins CIMA in standing against all forms of discrimination; we firmly believe that when all of us recognise and fulfil our responsibilities to value others, we will have a better and stronger Cayman Islands.”