Concerns over violence against women, girls

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq says there are concern that violence against women and girls has been exacerbated by COVID-19 in the Caribbean and further afield.

He further stated the UN is responding to this in many ways through social economic COVID response plans.

“For example, the community sector response plan for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean or the social economy response plans for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname amongst others all address as a core issue violence against women, shelter for special services to women affected by this violence, psychosocial support for women’s economic empowerment for recovery and this focus has actually been mainstream in the regional Spotlight Programme strategy with the view to immediately address this year the impact of COVID in the region.”

Trebucq was speaking at Tuesday’s virtual Signing Ceremony for the Spotlight Initiative Caribbean Regional Programme. This document was signed by representatives from the UN, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the European Union (EU).

The focus of the Spotlight Initiative Caribbean Regional Programme is the reduction in the prevalence of incidents of family violence. The Spotlight is being implemented in Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Trebucq explained the “regional initiatives is one of the flagship partnerships between the UN and EU aimed at eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. It is a true commitment to fight what has become one of the most widespread persistent pandemics and is a devastating human rights violations in today’s world. The Spotlight Initiative Caribbean Regional Programme will specifically address family violence in all its forms- physical, social, sexual, economic and also emotional abuse within relationships that are considered as family connections or akin to family.”

He also outlined what makes the Programme distinctive from other gender investment.

“First, we felt like this is a partnership and key pillar of the UN reform as it brings together several UN agencies to fight violence in an integrated manner by leveraging each other’s strengths and expertise. Secondly, it will establish a new way of working between the United Nations, government, inter-governments and institutions and civil societies organisations to find a sort of multidimensional approach that will bring innovative solutions to gender inequality and family violence in the region. And thirdly, it aims at enabling transformative change, change is grounded on the human right approach and ‘leaving no one behind’ principles by integrating governance, norms and behaviours, services, data and women movements.” (MG)