GEORGE TOWN, 11th March 2026

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.