In recognition of the important role of the Victim and Witness Support Unit (VWSU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as service providers for critical case management and psycho-social support for survivors of gender-based violence, the Spotlight Initiative team has contributed critical ICT equipment worth nearly 70 000 USD to strengthen the capacity of the Unit.

Under the Regional Spotlight Initiative UN Women seeks to conduct a baseline survey. Proposals are invited from Firms/Consortium of Consultants outlining the methodology to i) Establish Baselines, Milestones, and Targets for the Caribbean Regional Spotlight Initiative ii) Complete Caribbean Regional Programme Results Framework/Monitoring Matrix and iii) Update the Caribbean Regional Programme Monitoring & Evaluation Plan. The Firm/Consortium of Consultants are also expected to propose a monitoring system along the instruments and recommended methods for data collection and measurement of the indicators for the Regional Spotlight Program, based on the results framework.

UN Women’s Small Grants are designed to support institutional strengthening and capacity-building, especially for smaller organisations. This call specifically supports CSOs working in the area of family violence, especially responding to the needs of women and children survivors as well those who face discrimination or marginalisation. Expressions of interest that focus on intersectional issues are highly encouraged.

In the Caribbean and around the world more people are at home due to the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns and/or the subsequent unemployment, as a result care work responsibility in the home has multiplied. In the absence of measurement, women’s total contribution to social and economic development is not being captured.

An important violence prevention programme is underway for young people in Trinidad and Tobago. It is the UN Women “Foundations Programme - Strengthening Prevention Approaches to Addressing Gender-Based Violence in the Caribbean” for young women and men - 13 to 24 years of age.

In a statement following the murders of environmental activist Lesbia Yaneth in Honduras and Jo Cox in the United Kingdom, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka calls for collective action on discrimination against political harassment and violence against women.