If you step into the Ministry of Social Development and Education, tucked away upstairs the Caribbean Commercial Complex, you’ll find a one-woman army at work. Her name is Kemoloy J. Murphy, and though she’s just one person, she is carrying an entire unit on her shoulders — the Gender Affairs Unit, Anguilla’s national focal point for gender development.
Don’t be fooled into thinking “one-person unit” means she’s sitting quietly at a desk. Kemoloy is everywhere – in boardrooms with government officials, in churches, workshops with entrepreneurs, on the ground with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and more. Even within government itself, she collaborates with the Community Services Planning Unit and the National Chronic Disease Unit, because, as she explains, gender is a cross-cutting theme that touches almost every area of life. It’s demanding work — “overwhelming at times,” as she admits — but for her, it’s also fulfilling.
“I feel really blessed to be able to give back to the community in my capacity,” she says. Originally from Jamaica, Kemoloy moved to Anguilla in 2006 and joined the government sector in 2016. She was later promoted to the Gender Affairs Unit in 2022. For her, gender work is personal. Growing up in a rural community, she witnessed inequalities firsthand, and instead of turning away, she decided to be part of the solution.
The Gender Affairs Unit was established in 2014, and though small, its reach stretches across almost every corner of Anguillian life. Its job is to make sure gender perspectives are considered in policies, decisions, and programmes — whether it’s in government or society at large. The unit works to ensure decisions made at the top filter down in a way that benefits men, women, boys, and girls equally. “You want to ensure that when you are bringing about policies or laws or regulations, you’re taking all the different needs of all those different populations in mind,” Kemoloy explains.
This means working not only with government departments but also with NGOs, corporate bodies, and faith-based organisations. Awareness campaigns, training, policy development, and good old-fashioned conversations all fall under the unit’s umbrella.
Take, for instance, the SheTrades workshop held recently in Anguilla. In partnership with the International Trade Centre and the Caribbean Development Bank. The initiative seeks to increase opportunities for women entrepreneurs to trade regionally and internationally. For its first in-country workshop, 27 women signed up. They left not only with new skills but also with a 20-day social media marketing challenge that is still making waves online. “You can see where even following the workshop, the women are actually utilising the knowledge and tools to further build their brand and market their business,” says Kemoloy proudly.
But the unit’s work isn’t only about women. In fact, one of its strategic goals is to empower men and boys too. From the annual Father-Son Retreat — now in its third year — to partnerships with the Ebenezer Men’s Fellowship for International Men’s Day, the unit creates spaces where boys and men can bond, reflect, and receive support. Even the cheekily named Cocktales Podcast is part of that effort.
Still, the challenges are heavy. Funding is tighter than ever, with international resources often being pulled away from gender development. And being a one-person team comes with obvious limits. Yet, the toughest reality may be the growing crisis of domestic violence (DV).
In Anguilla, reported cases have more than doubled over the past decade. As of June 2025, there have already been over 300 reported cases of domestic violence on the island — and that’s just the ones that make it to paper. Many go unreported, either because survivors lack confidence in the system, feel there are no resources available, or don’t even realise their situation counts as abuse. It’s why the unit is now finalising national domestic violence protocols, to be launched in November 2025. These will provide a clear, coordinated response across agencies — from police to social services to health and education — so survivors don’t slip through the cracks.
The unit is also developing a Survivor Empowerment Programme to provide mental and economic support, while at the same time introducing reflection programmes for perpetrators. “DV is a cycle,” Kemoloy explains. “Unless you provide that additional support, survivors and perpetrators are likely to remain trapped in it.”
Looking ahead, Kemoloy dreams of Anguilla recognising the deep link between gender development, economic growth, and sustainable development. She wants policies that account for unpaid care work (usually shouldered by women), protections for breastfeeding mothers, childcare support, and legislation addressing sexual harassment. She also stresses inclusion — even of groups that face stigma. “Regardless of your religious background, your sexual or gender orientation, the government’s role is to provide support for everybody,” she says. The unit is also hard at work on Anguilla’s first national gender policy, with support from the FCDO (UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). Once complete, it will lay the groundwork for many of these legislative and policy changes.
For all the policies and protocols, at the core of Kemoloy’s work is simple human decency. Her message to Anguilla? Look out for each other. “We’ve seen a shift in how we engage as a community. I’d love for us to get back to a place where we ensure our neighbours are safe and protected,” she says.
And if you see something? Say something.
As Anguilla heads into the upcoming 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (25 November–10 December 2025), the Gender Affairs Unit will be rolling out a full calendar of events. In the meantime, for those seeking support — or just a conversation — the Gender Affairs Unit Anguilla can be found across all social media platforms or can be emailed via genderaffairsanguilla@gmail.com or kemoloy.murphy@gov.ai.
Article by Janissa Fleming
