UN Women & Adrienne Arsht Latin America Centre Join Forces to Address Gender-Based Challenges in Caribbean

The UN Women Multi-Country Office in the Caribbean and the US-based Adrienne Arsht Latin America Centre (AALAC) have formed a strategic partnership aimed at tackling pressing gender-based challenges in the Caribbean. The collaboration, announced on July 11, 2023, will focus on promoting female equality and safety, with a particular emphasis on Jamaica and Guyana.

Valentina Sader, assistant director of AALAC and coordinator of the center's gender-related activities, highlighted the unique obstacles faced by women and girls in the Caribbean that hinder their progress towards equal standing in society. These challenges include limited political representation and insufficient access to vital resources necessary for post-disaster recovery.

Citing research findings, Sader revealed that less than half of all political positions in the Caribbean are held by elected or appointed women, and a concerning 46% of women in the region have experienced abuse at some point in their lives.

To address these issues, AALAC will leverage its national, international, and regional networks, as well as its Caribbean Initiative, to facilitate discussions and raise awareness about the specific challenges faced by women and girls in the Caribbean. The initiative will focus on crucial topics such as climate change and climate funding, democracy and political representation, gender-based violence, peace, security, and gender-based violence.

Tonni Brodber, the Caribbean Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office, expressed confidence in the potential benefits of the partnership, drawing a parallel to the successful strengthening of relationships between civil society organizations and policymakers in the United States and Latin America by the Atlantic Council.

According to the Atlantic Council, AALAC and UN Women will engage in talks and dialogues with local individuals, organizations, multilateral institutions, members of the business sector, and financial institutions. The collaboration aims to foster a deeper understanding of gender norms in the Caribbean, build momentum, and gain support from stakeholders across sectors and regions. The ultimate goal is to generate policy recommendations based on a gender-based approach that will specifically benefit the Caribbean.

AALAC's Caribbean Initiative, which commenced programming in February 2021, seeks to enhance US engagement with the region while raising awareness about key priorities within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) among US and global stakeholders. The initiative provides a platform for US and Caribbean stakeholders to offer innovative insights, advancing a closer US-Caribbean partnership and the overall prosperity, stability, and well-being of the region.

The collaboration between UN Women and AALAC signifies a significant step towards empowering women, promoting gender equality, and addressing the challenges faced by women and girls in the Caribbean. UN Women, the United Nations agency dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women, is a leading force in this endeavor.