This Commission on the Status of Women has shown that, whatever the headwinds, the United Nations is still the place where consensus can be found on gender equality. As this 69th Commission on the Status of Women closes, we share a deep recognition of the challenges and opportunities of gender equality

Women leaders and aspiring young female leaders recently came together at an Intergenerational Leadership Mixer to exchange ideas on building self-empowerment and social networks to propel young women’s economic empowerment in Saint Lucia

As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, governments have adopted by consensus a powerful Political Declaration to respect, protect, and champion the rights, equality, and empowerment of women and girls

Achieving true gender equality in the Caribbean requires more than just responsive actions—it demands a transformative shift in how institutions and governments address the barriers that perpetuate inequality. This was the key message during an inaugural staff Community of Practice hybrid session with participation from UN staff across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

UN Women MCO - Caribbean presented at a landmark forum hosted by Belize’s Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, emphasising strategies to combat discrimination, violence against women, and linking CEDAW to gender equality goals

Saint Lucia's first-ever National Inter-Agency Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response (GBV) Task Force was officially launched on December 13, 2024, following a Cabinet Conclusion on November 11 which emphasized the urgency of addressing Gender-based violence (GBV) as a matter of national concern

St. Vincent and Grenadines with the support of the Global Affairs Canada-funded Build Back Equal Project has established the first national inter-agency GBV task force to drive coordination of essential service providers and key stakeholders for GBV data analysis and GBV case management in a systematic and collaborative manner, as well as guide national GBV prevention efforts and foster better coordination of both state and non-state actors

To ensure the effective implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence (NSAP-GBV & SV 2023-2027) and all through 2024, Cabinet approved a National Joint Steering Committee on Gender-based Violence to oversee the national efforts to reduce GBV and improve outcomes for survivors.

Women and youth in the northern town of Speightstown in Barbados are among key groups earmarked to be empowered to build climate resilience and safety in their community. The opportunity will be fueled through a new Joint Programme entitled: “Putting Youth and Women in the Center of Climate Resilience and Safety in Barbados” that is being implemented by UN Women and UNICEF, in collaboration with the Government of Barbados

Globally, 1 in 3 women are estimated to have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, and UN Women-supported research conducted across 5 Caribbean countries found that an average of 46% of women have experienced at least 1 form of violence.

With support from UN Women Multi Country Office - (MCO) Caribbean, The Directorate of Gender Affairs hosted an impactful Open House of the Support and Referral Centre (SARC) yesterday, as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Campaign

As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins, the UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean is calling on individuals, organisations, and communities to join their social media campaign, #PushForward, running from November 25 to December 10.

With a substantial investment of nearly USD one million, the Joint SDG Fund was a pioneering initiative and the first of its kind in The Bahamas and Bermuda. It aimed to address the unique challenges faced by medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) in the creative and cultural, agribusiness, and tourism industries sectors and foster sustainable economic growth.

“It is pause for thought that this cost in terms of GDP of violence against women and girls in Grenada is 5.24%. These are significant resources that could be directed elsewhere. This is an area that I hope as duty bearers we can look at closely with a gender-budgeting lens, our new way of doing business."

Under the Global Affairs Canada-funded Build Back Equal Project, UN Women MCO Caribbean Deputy Representative Isiuwa Iyahen supported the launch of an initiative to facilitate working mothers’ and women attendees care for their children at Dominica’s premier Creole Festival - Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl - in partnership with Melissa Poponne Skerrit, the Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development

Tonni Brodber, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, recently led capacity-building workshops on gender mainstreaming for members of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname

Following the successful Gender Equality Forum in May 2024, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) - Caribbean has continued its advocacy with a series of virtual tours, designed to sustain the conversation on gender equality and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) issues.

Women from Indigenous and Tribal Villages in Suriname are making strides toward economic empowerment through a business coaching workshop tailored to their needs.

This article will explain venture capital (a form of financing that investors provide to startups and small businesses), one of the most common forms of external funding, and provide actionable tips on how to succeed at your first VC meeting.

UN Women MCO Caribbean is seeking to engage 30 Champions for the Beijing Platform for Action 30th Anniversary, also known as Beijing +30