The CARICOM Secretariat on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, hosted an in-person national consultation on the Draft CARICOM Regional Gender Equality Strategy (CRGES) titled: “Stepping it up: A strategy to achieve gender equality in the Caribbean Community”.
The consultation, led by Ms Ann-Marie Williams, Deputy Programme Manager – Gender and Development, CARICOM Secretariat, sought to analyse the Draft CRGES and solicit input from diverse groups, and individuals, in Anguilla to accelerate the effective implementation of key priority actions through a regional coordinated approach to achieve gender equality, and empower all women and girls.
During brief remarks at the meeting, Ms Williams noted that the Draft CRGES “focuses attention on actions to reduce social inequalities in the Caribbean region – especially those that have been laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic that have adversely affected, and continue to affect, the lives and circumstances of men, women, boys and girls across our region.
“As part of the CARICOM’s Secretariat’s mandate to achieve regional integration with its member states, the ideas, experiences and voices of its citizens must be considered across all policies and programmatic interventions.”
She noted that Anguilla had signed on to the instruments and commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and that Anguilla’s contribution to the Draft CRGES allows Anguilla to reach compliance with some of those commitments.
The draft reflects CARICOM’s Regional Gender Equality Policy that states, as its goal, “to strengthen the capacity of CARICOM Secretariat to champion the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women while working with Member States, international and regional development partners to build economic, social, and cultural prosperity. The Policy also aims to facilitate gender mainstreaming in the work of the Community.”
Among participants and attendees at the consultation were: the Honourable Minister for Social Development and Education, Ms Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers; Permanent Secretary for Social Development, Dr Bonnie Richardson-Lake; Opposition Leader, Mrs Cora Richardson-Hodge; and heads of departments and development planners across government and non-government organisations. Ironically, there were only three men among attendees and participants at the consultation meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Gender Development Coordinator, Mrs Kemoloy Murphy. Mrs Hyacinth Augustine Bradley, Community Services Planner in the Ministry of Social Development and Education; and Dr Aiesha Andrewin, Chief Medical Officer, presented Anguilla’s national contribution to the discussion. The national narrative will form part of the DRAFT CRGES. Ms Williams, Deputy Programme Manager – Gender and Development, CARICOM Secretariat, presented the Draft CRGES for review and discussion.
The consultation held at LaVue Boutique Inn, marked the sixth and final consultation meeting on the draft CRGES, hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat.
