Care services create paid jobs and are also fundamental to parents, particularly women’s participation in the workforce. Hear from an expert - UN Women Consultant, Mahalia Jackman, Professor of Economics and Inclusive Development, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, on care economies, government investment and more.

Forty representatives from the justice, policing, health, social services and education sectors in concert with the Division of Gender Affairs and civil society organizations concluded a two-day national training aimed at strengthening Saint Lucia's coordinated response to gender-based violence (GBV) through the implementation of newly developed Multi-Sector Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

A new UN Women report finds that 84 per-cent of women’s organizations report that demand for their services has increased since January 2025, while nearly nine in 10 can no longer meet current levels of need

UN Women MCO-Caribbean focused its attention on the women who had the greatest family responsibilities with children aged 5 years and under, targeting the support to help the women absorb and recover from the impacts of Hurricane Melissa.

Sixteen years ago, UN Women was created to advance gender equality, the autonomy, and the rights of women and girls in all their diversity, and to strengthen those who make this progress possible across all sectors. Since then, UN Women has supported laws, public policies, social movements, community leadership, and partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean that have transformed lives and shown that change is possible.

UN Women MCO-Caribbean team meets with the Minister of Labour and Social Security in Jamaica during follow-up mission on the Hurricane Melissa Response

Caribbean feminist leaders, women’s rights advocates, civil society representatives, and academic experts have contributed substantive proposals to strengthen the draft General Recommendation No. 41 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), a forthcoming global normative instrument focused on eliminating gender stereotypes and the unequal power relations that sustain them.

Caribbean Parliamentarians and national gender machinery representatives met at the recently held "Better Practices in Legislation, Policy, and Financing Subsidised Care Systems: Using the '5R' Approach and Principles" meeting hosted by ParlAmericas, UN Women and the Parliament of Grenada

UN Women MCO Caribbean launched two transformative pilots to strengthen the Care Economy and Social Assistance Programmes through the Build Back Equal Project which is funded in part by Global Affairs Canada

Caribbean countries are demonstrating leadership in revising laws, expanding income and social protection for the most economically vulnerable, and strengthening child and elder care support. These commitments help ensure that women and men have the time and stability needed to pursue full-time employment. This is exactly the kind of action required to move the gender equality agenda forward.

The human rights of women — including the right to security, dignity, equality and justice — are core principles of international law. Violence against Women is a global crisis. It is a crisis here in the Caribbean too!

Lana Athanaze-Francis' dedication to excellence has propelled her far beyond the shores and shops of Dominica. Through opportunities with the Build Back Equal Project, a comprehensive approach to economic empowerment funded in part by the Government of Canada and being implemented by UN Women and UNFPA, Éclat Nova Luxuries has been showcased on international platforms, proving that small island businesses can compete globally.

For many, moving to the Caribbean conjures visions of serene beaches and easy living. For Mar Echevarria, a UN Volunteer and Gender and Development Specialist, it meant something far deeper—a chance to create impact from the ground up.

Migration has always been a force that binds the world together. Across borders and generations, the movement of people has driven cultural exchange, strengthened communities, and energized economies.

Crime and violence is a public health concern requiring solutions that stem from a human rights and gender-responsive approach. UN Women, through the Build Back Equal (BBE) project joined the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) and national stakeholders to develop a strategy that leverages the leadership and expertise of civil society organizations (CSOs) in tackling the social challenges.

UN Women works to safeguard the rights of women and girls who are among the more vulnerable of the affected persons in a crisis, ensuring they are at the centre and meaningfully participating in relief and recovery. These efforts provide critical protection from incidences of violence or, where these occur, they are able to safely access the needed services – health, shelter, psychosocial support, legal support and justice

Persistent gaps in access to finance, care support, and inclusive business ecosystems continue to limit the opportunities of women entrepreneurs and MSMEs; to respond to these challenges, the Joint SDG Fund Programme “Optimizing Innovative Finance for Underserved Groups to Build Resilience and Accelerate the SDGs in Antigua & Barbuda and Saint Lucia”—implemented by UN Women, UNDP and ITU—organized two National Forums on Business Partnerships for Gender Equality in Antigua and Barbuda and in Saint Lucia in November 2025, in close collaboration with national counterparts.

The digital world promised connection and empowerment – but for millions of women and girls, it has become a world of abuse. Digital violence is spreading at alarming speed fueled by artificial intelligence, anonymity, and the absence of effective laws and accountability

Hurricane Melissa is now ranked among the most powerful Atlantic storms on record and has caused widespread devastation across the Caribbean. The hurricane’s impact spans multiple countries—including Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas—resulting in large-scale displacement, infrastructural collapse, and humanitarian need.

Across the world, women and girls still shoulder most care work, as unequal norms and low investment in public systems continue to limit their time for education, leadership, decent work, and leisure. In 2024, women globally earned the equivalent of 41 fewer days of paid work than men, largely because of the time they spend on unpaid care. It’s time to build a world that recognizes, values, and shares care—with strong systems, real investment, and support across every life stage.