Build Back Equal - Investing in People for Individual and National Development: BBE Dominica National Steering Committee is Launched

Build Back Equal Dominica Project National Steering Committee working session. UN Women Photos/Sheldon Casimir

Roseau, Dominica, November 22, 2023: Women and men in Caribbean societies need investments that will ensure their personal safety and economy security.

Tonni Brodber, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean told the launch of the Dominica national project steering committee for the Build Back Equal Project, that 30 years ago countries across the globe had no difficulty identifying why gender equality was necessary and ways to achieve this development goal.

Tonni Brodber, Representative UN Women MCO Caribbean

Delivering her remarks virtually, Ms. Brodber said the Government of Canada through BBE is demonstrating that an investment in development, is an investment in people.

The Global Affairs Canada-funded Build Back Equal Project focuses on ensuring women and youth-owned businesses have access to affordable and adequate financing; fit for purpose social protection programmes including social security, child and elder care services to ensure no one is left behind; sexual and reproductive health services that are more effective and that survivors of gender-based violence can have easier access to the services they need. UN Women is leading the project’s implementation with UNFPA.

The UN Women Representative added: “The SDGs may seem very esoteric.  Build Back Equal is a project that centres not only SDG 13 – taking that urgent action to combat Climate Change and its impacts but of course SDG5 – Gender Equality. We are talking about No Poverty – Goal 1, Decent Work and Economic Growth - Goal 8, Ensuring Healthy Lives and Wellbeing for All - Goal 3… We are getting distracted from people who lay at the centre of the work we need to do, to ensure that they thrive and our countries thrive.”

Congratulating Dominica on its work to address poverty including through social safety nets, the UN Women MCO Caribbean Representative said more still needs to be done:

“Next year the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women – (CSW68) will look at social protection, institutions and financing for gender equality. The review theme in particular looks at social protection systems… Many of us who remember the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) that happened in 1995 know that we are coming upon 30 years since countries across the globe including Dominica, had no problem identifying the specific ways in which they would act to achieve gender equality. The existence of National Gender Machineries (NGMs) is one of those actions but now Social Protection, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH) are critical actions that still require movement.”

Honourable Dr. Cassandra Williams, Minister of State with special responsibility for Gender Affairs

Honourable Dr. Cassandra Williams, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, with special responsibility for Senior’s Security, Children at Risk, Gender Affairs and the Differently Abled expressed enthusiasm for the entrepreneurship training programmes, adding Dominica is seeking to pilot such an economic opportunity for young single mothers. She explained that when women have financial independence, they gain self-empowerment, breaking the chain of dependence and reducing their vulnerability to GBV.

David-Éric Simard, First Secretary (Development) - High Commission of Canada in Barbados

In his remarks, David-Éric Simard, First Secretary (Development) - High Commission of Canada in Barbados said Canada supports Build Back Equal because they believe it has been designed as a holistic and comprehensive approach that will help increase women’s ability to participate in every sphere of the modern-day society.

He added: “Build Back Equal has set out ambitious objectives, including:

• providing capacity building to help reduce the incidence of gender-based violence - focusing on building stronger referral pathways.
• addressing women’s economic empowerment, and leadership at all levels.
• addressing critical access to business training & innovative financing for micro & small women led businesses.
• ensuring that we look at best ways to address un-paid care leave.
• ensuring care services are integrated in gender-responsive social protection systems.
• working with you to help develop and implement critical legislation.
• strengthening access to sexual and reproductive health services and rights for women and girls, and all vulnerable populations.

The Global Affairs Canada official added: “In the end when I think of Build Back Equal, I think about equal rights and equal opportunities for all, and how we get there. We would all agree that all human beings are equal in dignity and rights”.