United Nations Women (UN Women) Deputy Representative, Tonni-Ann Brodber, hosted a 2-day session on “Building a National Gender Policy and Action Plan for Anguilla” on 12th and 13th February. Appointed Gender Focal Points (GFP), from various government departments and the Ministry of Health and Social Development, attended the all-day sessions held at La Vue Conference Centre.
Participants included Gender representatives from the Departments of Inland Revenue, Physical Planning, Immigration, Labour, Treasury, Public Administration, Lands & Survey, Environment, Disaster Management, Probation, Social Development, Health Protection, Youth and Culture, Radio Anguilla and the Royal Anguilla Police Force. The diverse participant attendance highlights the integration of Gender development as a cross-cutting national issue that is pertinent for the development of all sectors of society.
The workshop began with opening remarks by Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, and Gender Development Coordinator, Dr. Ronya Foy Connor. Both speakers highlighted the importance of developing a National Gender Policy for Anguilla on the cusp of the 2015 passage of the Domestic Violence Act; the 2016 extension of the Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and the current 2019-2020 priorities of achieving Gender Equality in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Deputy Representative Brodber and Gender Affairs Executive Director of Antigua & Barbuda, Farmala Jacobs, engaged attendees in a review of the concepts of sex vs. gender, the hierarchies of power and control, key gender equality concepts and intersectionality, and how to conduct a gender analysis for sustainable development. Out of the robust conversations and group work, participants identified four issues of current national importance including: 1) Health Care Redevelopment, 2) Citizen Security Measures, 3) Human Trafficking and Migration Concerns and 4) Economic/Financial Stability.
GFPs will now have the opportunity to share the lessons learned with their various Heads of Department and Permanent Secretaries in order to further the process of gender mainstreaming throughout the Government of Anguilla. The Gender Affairs Unit will then liaise with each GFP in order to develop an inclusive public sector approach for the Gender Policy and Action Plan. The plan is currently in its beginning stages, but is gaining momentum with the support of agencies such as UN Women and a contingent of capable and passionate focal points.
