Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) has economic costs for individuals (e.g., victims and their children), families, communities and society at-large. Several countries have estimated the costs of VAWG, in an effort to understand the economic impacts of VAWG on the national economy and to determine investments needed to lessen, if not eliminate VAWG.

The National Strategic Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence 2023 – 2027 of Trinidad and Tobago is an evidence-based strategy that seeks to eliminate gender-based violence and sexual violence within the national community while enhancing the rights and safety of all women, girls, men and boys

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) has economic costs for individuals (e.g., victims and their children), families, communities and society at-large. Several countries have estimated the costs of VAWG, in an effort to understand the economic impacts of VAWG on the national economy and to determine investments needed to lessen, if not eliminate VAWG.

Prevalence of VAWG in the Caribbean is among the highest in the world. VAWG has proven to be so entrenched and normalized that both men and women have a high tolerance for its manifestations, particularly when perpetrated in the context of intimate partner relationships. Data from a variety of sources confirm that even young people hold these views, raising concerns about the intergenerational transmission of VAWG.

Gender-based violence (GBV) violence shelters 4  are safe places where survivors of intimate partner, domestic, and/or family violence can get help and temporary housing. GBV shelters provide critical support, immediate protection, safe emergency shelter, and longer-term transitional housing. Because of the nature of the shelters, survivors of violence may reside in proximity, for either a limited or extended period...

In most countries, parliamentary debate on and approval of the national budget is required. This makes parliamentarians critical actors in ensuring that budget allocations and expenditures are undertaken in a transparent, accountable and fair manner. Gender responsive budgeting (GRB), is a strategy to achieve gender equality, by ensuring that interventions required to eliminate inequalities between women and men and boys and girls are adequately financed.

Public assistance in the Caribbean generally does not include special provisions for sole parents. Instead, such families—if they are fortunate—receive support through the limited general public assistance schemes.

The social safety net assessments conducted in Eastern Caribbean states in and around 2009 recommended that countries should develop a proxy means test (PMT) to replace the diverse approaches they were using to target poverty-related benefits.

Eastern Caribbean countries are currently developing and implementing substantial social safety net reforms. Governments of six Eastern Caribbean countries conducted social safety net assessments in 2009 – 2010, with the support of UN Women and UNICEF in partnership with the World Bank.

Conditional Cash Transfers: Learning From The Literature

The social safety net assessments conducted in Eastern Caribbean states in and around 2009 recommended that countries should develop a proxy means test (PMT) to replace the diverse approaches they were using to target poverty-related benefits.

Establishing gender and child responsive social protection schemes that ensure universal access to health care including maternity care, and basic income security, will protect women and their families from the effects of economic shocks and crises that may result in job and wage losses.