Originally posted via the blog Genevieve Whitaker An Advocate for Humanity

As we celebrate Women’s History Month which is also Virgin Islands History Month we reflect on the great women from our various communities who have forged the pathway for many to follow. We pay tribute to the ongoing effort for equality and justice for women and by extension the family.  These women were and in the case of SUPERSTAR media mogul extraordinaire,  Oprah Winfrey (Winfrey), are trailblazing, trendsetting leaders who defied the odds stacked against them. They tackled stumbling blocks in the form of boulders with their BOLDNESS! We reflect in the Virgin Islands as I did in 2009 blog post generated under the banner of my company’s  political brand: Queens of the Virgin Islands labor movement. Look at the image of our Queens below. Caribbean women with tremendous courage. Our Queen Agnes, Queen Mathilda and Queen Mary:

Turning a number of pages in the history book. What is to be said about the rights and women and children in the United States? In this case, I am speaking about U.S. ratification of the Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)?  I am also referring U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)? Note: The U.S. has failed to ratify CEDAW and the CRC (only 6 other countries, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Nauru, Palau and Tonga. and the U.S. has not ratified CEDAW and only two countries the U.S. and Somalia have not ratified the CRC).  See UNICEF’s Faq’s Page As an advocate I am proud to state that in support of U.S. ratification I joined with other advocated for ratification of both treaties. You  can take action too! Sign the CEDAW and CRC petitions!

• CEDAW Petition
• CRC Petition

I turn to music in highlighting the work that must be done. If we want to see change me must take a STAND! Bob Marley summed up the concept of standing up for your rights. He told us to:

Our great woman of our courage, the Honorable Rosa Parks, certainly stood up for her rights and our rights by extension because people of all colors benefited from the work of our great Civil Rights pioneers. Her beautiful image depicting her act of humanity now sits at the Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol woman to sat down on an name of human rights and equality in Washington, D.C., Feb. 27, 2013. a woman of great courage, the same attribute we seek of our current others leaders, both women and men.

In the Virgin Islands we have honored our great women leaders through Legislative Resolutions bestowing honors upon individuals such as the late VI Senator Ruby M. Rouss. So now how do we celebrate, commemorate and honor the work of women both historically and in the present?  Let us begin by  honoring the women in your lives, create strong bonds in the spirit of sisterhood, and support the concept of family. Throughout history we are told of the great power women possess and it is not for powers we see portrayed on the latest reality show or drama but for the powers women possess and have possessed in the peace process as peacemakers in the home and as peacemakers for the cause of international peace and diplomacy.

I leave you with this song produced by a fellow blogger and friend, a talented jazz musician. The name of the song is Queen Mary.

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