The House of Parliament proudly announces the official launch of its Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) – Cayman Islands Branch, a critical step in strengthening women’s leadership and gender-sensitive governance across the Cayman Islands and the wider Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) is a global network of women Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Parliaments and Legislatures. The network works to build the capacity of women elected to Parliament, promote gender-inclusive legislative practices, and support parliament in becoming gender sensitive institutions. It encourages the full and equal participation of women at all levels of political and parliamentary leadership.

The launch of the CWP Cayman Islands Branch on Friday, 6th March 2026, aligns with International Women’s Day, celebrated globally under the 2026 theme “Give to Gain.” The theme underscores the importance of collective action, shared responsibility, and inclusive leadership in accelerating progress toward gender equality — particularly within political and decision-making spaces.

Honourable D. Ezzard Miller, Speaker of the House of Parliament, welcomed the launch and emphasised its broader significance: “We celebrate not only the formal establishment of the CWP Cayman Islands Branch, but also our shared commitment to elevating women’s leadership in public life and decision-making. This initiative represents both progress and promise — a powerful step toward ensuring that women’s perspectives are central to shaping our laws, policies, and communities.”

“The launch of the CWP Cayman Islands Branch marks a milestone in empowering women leaders and strengthening representative democracy in our jurisdiction,” said Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Member of the CAA Region CWP Steering Committee. “By establishing this branch, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive parliamentary culture that supports women’s voices, advances gender-responsive policy, and inspires future generations. In the spirit of Give to Gain, we recognise that inclusive leadership benefits not only women, but our democracy as a whole.”

The importance of engaging men as allies in advancing women’s political participation was also underscored, echoing the words of a Former Chairperson of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, who stated at the closing of the 2016 Africa Regional Conference in Tanzania: “One of the main challenges in all women’s participation initiatives is raising the awareness of male party leaders about the need to increase women’s political participation and leadership as both the right and politically advantageous thing to do.”

The launch event will bring together parliamentarians, government officials, community leaders, and advocates to celebrate achievements, share insights, and chart future priorities for women’s political engagement in the Cayman Islands.

The CWP Cayman Islands Branch will work in close collaboration with the wider CPA and CWP networks across the Commonwealth to deliver training, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that support women in public service and legislative leadership.

Members of the public are advised that the portion of Fort Street in front of the Parliament Building will be closed from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 6th March 2026, to facilitate the event. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will be on site to manage and divert traffic accordingly.