UN Women MCO-Caribbean is supporting the Ministry of Social Transformation and Human Resource Development in Antigua and Barbuda, with the development of a database of beneficiaries for the country's main cash transfer programme for households living in poverty - the "Board of Guardians" programme.

As part of continued advocacy efforts around the recent launch of the UN Women flagship publication Progress of the World’s Women 2015-2016: Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights”, UN Women Regional Advisor Economic Empowerment – Elizabeth Villagomez Morales presented a copy to the Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Social Transformation, the Honourable Samantha Marshall.

Under a joint UN programme, UN Women, UNICEF and the OECS Commission are supporting national budget directors and finance officers from the Eastern Caribbean in conducting the gender analysis to design and cost measures, the outcome of which are budgets that are child and gender responsive.

Today, on this Human Rights Day, we celebrate the right of all people to make their voices heard and participate fully in public life. Yet the voices of too many women and girls continue to be stifled through discrimination, threats and violence. This is holding back progress for women and for all members of society.

Individuals, non-governmental organizations, groups and networks are invited to submit written communications—including, but not limited to, complaints, appeals and petitions—to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) with information on alleged injustices and human rights violations against women in any country.