Gender Justice Reform and Institutional Strengthening

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Chief Justice of Barbados, Sir Justice Marston Gibbs. Photo: UN Women/Ricardo Leacock

UN Women is working to support the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers identify and address the social, economic and cultural circumstances that perpetuate sex and gender-related human rights violations.

The Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Programme, a partnership between the regional judiciaries led by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Government of Canada/Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) sdeeks to improve court administration and the administration of justice by strengthening the ability of the courts and the judiciary to resolve cases effectively and fairly in the Caribbean region.

Barbados Judicial officers in Gender training and front left Dr. Penny Reedie (Director, JURIST Project). Photo: UN Women/Ricardo Leacock

Building on this, UN Women is drawing from best practices in the Caribbean and the broader Commonwealth, as well as from UN Women’s corporate experience in the area of gender-sensitive judicial administration world-wide, to support capacity strengthening for judicial officers for enhanced gender responsive court administration and administration of justice. 

UN Women is working with the Barbados Judiciary led by Chief Justice of Barbados, Sir Justice Marston Gibbs to draft a Gender Protocol for adoption by the judicial officers of that country.

One of the goals of the JURIST Project is to improve the capacity of the courts to deliver gender-responsive and customer focused services. The Gender Equality Protocol is therefore a fulfillment of UN Women’s commitment to support the judiciary in delivering gender-responsive services.

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (second left) with (from left) MCO Caribbean Head of Office a.i. Tonni Brodber, Regional Director of the Americas and the Caribbean Luiza Carvalho and Madame Justice Jacqueline Cornelius of Barbados. Photo: UN Women/Ricardo Leacock

During a recent mission to the Caribbean, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka delivered remarks at the UN Women/Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) Gender Protocol Consultation for Judicial Officers in Barbados. The consultation was led by the Chief Justice, Justice Jacqueline Cornelius of Barbados, Caribbean Court of Justice, Justice Adrian Saunders and Dr. Penny Reedie (Director, JURIST Project).