Peru's Women and Vulnerable Populations Minister Ana Maria Romero-Lozada on Tuesday reaffirmed the country's commitment towards an egalitarian world, where women and girls are fully empowered and their rights are respected.
The government official joined fellow delegates of the Organization of American States' (OAS) Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) in a meeting held in New York. Delegates discussed progress made and challenges facing regional authorities in terms of gender equality.
Organized by Peru and Canada, the gathering was part of CIM's activities for the United Nations 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61).
At the event, Romero-Lozada warned the prevalence of a "patriarchal social, political, economic and cultural system" prevents women from fully exercising their rights.
She added such system "affects women's physical, economic and political autonomy," thus favoring the perpetuation of poverty and extreme poverty, especially among "rural, peasant and indigenous women."
On the other hand, the Peruvian official presided over the meeting of CIM Executive Committee, which convened representatives of Costa Rica, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia and Panama.
The officials analyzed activities executed in 2016 and agreed on actions to be taken this year.
"We must strengthen the role of the Inter-American Commission of Women as a follow-up mechanism to track progress made in women's rights in the region, emphasizing their political participation and the narrowing of gender gaps," Romero-Lozada said as CIM Executive Committee President.
(END) NDP/DHT/MVB