UN Women MCO Caribbean hosts Spotlight Initiative Caribbean CSO Intergenerational South-South Exchange in Barbados

Tonni Brodber, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) (Centre front) is joined by CSO participants that attended the Exchange. UN Women Photos/Lisle Warner

Bridgetown, Barbados, 7th November 2023: “We want to make sure this is a dialogue that leads to action. Many of us have been working in our corners but we must ask how we can learn from each other.”

In making this call to action, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) - Caribbean Tonni Brodber, encouraged Civil Society Organisations (CSO) participants to harness their collective strength.

Different age groups may have varying perspectives, experiences, and approaches to addressing gender-related issues. This is where intergenerational dialogue plays a pivotal role. It brings together individuals from various age groups, allowing them to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another. This synergy can lead to more effective strategies and solutions to further strengthen regional and national feminist advocacy and movement building.

The UN Women Representative was addressing a 3-day Regional Intergenerational South-South Exchange in Barbados with 39 civil society organisations from 11 Caribbean countries. She said: “Through Spotlight there has been a 500M dollar [Euros] investment in eliminating violence against women and girls globally, and we have to give credit to the EU for their contribution. In the Caribbean we started this work in 2017, and over 100 CSOs in our region have been able to benefit from capacity strengthening programmes. Civil society is the engine that has continued to do this work whether there was money in it or not.”

Ms Tonni Brodber, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) delivers a point during the Exchange.

UN Resident Coordinator, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Didier Trebucq said: “This is a chance to highlight Spotlight’s achievements. We have a regional network of gender NGOs facilitating multi stakeholder dialogues, a CSO Regional reference group, formation of several joint statements, and we have close to 70 CSOs that have benefited from small grants.”

Mr. Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean delivers opening remarks virtually

The South-South exchange aims to provide a space for networking, alliance building and movement strategizing for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls feminist movement. At the end of the 3-day event, participants will develop a joint feminist statement outlining Caribbean CSO priorities for localising the Sustainable Development Goals in order to deliver on the 2023 Agenda.

Programme Manager for Health, Social Protection and Gender at the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Jeannie Blanchard, said: “We are here today because gender-based violence and family violence represent a pervasive issue in the region. It is essential to help victims of gender-based violence to reach their full potential. With this intergenerational dialogue we are working towards changing the culture in the region.”

“South-South and triangular cooperation are increasingly recognized as primary accelerators in achieving the global SDGs. Knowledge exchange between countries and development partners has significant potential to define the most powerful gender equality strategies and policies. Key issues include ensuring the central role of civil society and reaching women and girls in marginalized positions.” ¹

1. Extract from UN Women Fund for Gender Equality’s Annual Report 2018-2019