Women and girls around the world are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster response. In solemn recognition of this reality, the United Nations, under the lead of UN Women, commemorates International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022, with the theme, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” This year, we are highlighting the impacts of global warming on women and girls right here on our Caribbean home and recognizing their outstanding contributions in the response to and fight against climate change.

Bridgetown, Barbados, 27th May 2021:- As countries develop COVID-19 recovery strategies, investments in infrastructure must include the care economy, including measures to reduce and redistribute unpaid care work. Childcare, elder care and care of the sick is as crucial to a functioning economy as any road, electric grid or building. If workers, many of whom are women, drop out of the paid economy because of their unpaid care work responsibilities, the entire economy is negatively impacted. ...

Across the Caribbean, there are millions of girls who could right now be learning from home – if only they were connected. On International Girls in ICT Day, we encourage governments not to leave these girls behind.