11 strategies to further promote gender equality, the empowerment of women and poverty reduction...

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Strategies to Further Promote Gender Equality, the Empowerment of Women and Poverty Reduction

Rosina Wiltshire PhD

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Overall Context• Equality, Peace, Health and Wealth are Interconnected• Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women are Central to the Effective Implementation of the ICPD goals and Caribbean Development• Strengthening of Women in Political Decision-making,Economic Empowerment of Women, Protection of Older Persons and the Most Vulnerable, Reduction of HIV/AIDS infections, Improvement of Sexual Reproductive Rights and Health, Protection of the Disabled are Intricately Linked

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Enabling Gender Equality Legal Framework

International and RegionalUniversal Declaration of Human RightsUN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Convention of Belem do Para)

Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

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Strong Caribbean Frameworks

Strong Constitutional FrameworksStable Democratic FrameworksIndependent Judiciary


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Migration Context

The Region Continues to Lose Large Segments of its Most Educated Population to Migration

Women Comprise the Majority of these Migrants

Children Continue to be Left Behind with Family Members

Transnational Families

Migration Context

High Levels of Deportees with Weak Familial links

Communities Weakened by Internal and External Migration

Transnational Criminal Networks linked to Drug trade

Domestic and Societal Violence Reinforced and Amplified

High Emigration of Educated Role Models

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Gender Socio-Political Context

Historically Caribbean Women Played a Strong Role Nationally in Independence and in Shaping the Human Rights and Gender Equality debate Globally

The Caribbean was a leader Regionally and Globally in Electing a Female Prime Minister and President

Presently Two Sitting Prime Ministers

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Gender Equality Gains

The Caribbean has made Significant Advances in Gender Equality Legislation and Women’s Education.

Girls Enjoy Equal Access to Education


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Gender Empowerment Gains

Early achievements in legislative frameworks governing sexual abuse and domestic violence. CARICOM model legislation Countries introduced legislation from 1991. Trinidad and Tobago engaged in a national consultative process which built on modelIn 2010 Guyana Passed a Sexual Offences Act enabling video link testimony.


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Challenges to Goals

High Levels of Personal Insecurity Beginning in the Home

The Caribbean has one of the Highest Rates of Rape in the World

Estimates are that 30-50% of all Murders in some Caribbean Countries are the Result of Domestic Violence

Culture Normalizes Male Aggression

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Challenges

Women make up Less than 20 percent of Political Decision-Makers

Caribbean along with Arab and Pacific States at the bottom of the Global Ranking


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Gender Challenges

Girls Outperform Boys in Formal Education but Earn Less in the Workplace

Women the Majority of the Poorest Continuing High Levels of Teenage Pregnancy Fuels Cycle of Poverty and Inequality High Levels of HIV/AIDS

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Political Context

The Caribbean is moving towards a Population Profile with High Levels of Older People

Women tend to outlive menElder Abuse reflects the General

Societal Domestic Abuse which Predominantly affects Women, Children and the most Vulnerable

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Challenges

Legal Implementation DeficitRelative Impunity for Violence against

Women. Only 1% of Reported Rapes in Guyana and 3% in Trinidad and Tobago Result in Convictions.

Police culture not enabling of implementation

Reports take years to come to hearing.


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Challenges

Aggressive Masculinity Ideal Fuels Gender Based Violence

Destroys Individuals and Homes Fuels Risky Sexual Behaviour and

HIV/AIDS epidemic Puts Women, Children the Aged and

Disabled at Greatest Risk Undermines the Peace, Security of

Caribbean Societies and the Region

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CARICOM Reality

CARICOM Commissioned study led by Gender Justice Advocate on GBV and attitudes towards Masculinity.Sixtyfour percent of the population of CARICOM consists of young people under 30 years of age while 30% are between 18-30 years. Surveys administered to 1016 high school students drawn from Forms 2 to 6 in 31 high schools in 6 Caribbean Countries.


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Caricom Reality

Young Men Feel Strongly Influenced by their Families, Schools, Peers and Young Girls to Demonstrate their Manhood.

Fighting and Aggression Viewed as ‘Normal’ for Boys. Boys who Fail to be Aggressive are Labeled as ‘Soft’.

A Significant Percentage of Young Men and Women have Witnessed Violence


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Caricom Reality

. 12% percent of all respondents including

some girls believed that there were some instances in which a woman should be beaten.

Over 47.8% of respondents indicated that it was important for a female intimate partner to be ‘Disciplined’.

49% of respondents indicated that being sexually active was an important characteristic of masculinity


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Enabling Environment for Gender Inequality and GBV

The Over-emphasis of Caribbean ‘Men at Risk’ and ‘Male Marginalization’ is Often Used as an Excuse for Inaction and Derailment of the Agenda to Promote Gender Equality in the Region.

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High Health Costs High levels of HIV/AIDS. Growing Societal Violence and Alienation of

many Youth, Rise of Human Trafficking, Legal Impunity puts the Stamp of Legitimacy

and Normalcy of Violence against Women and Reinforces the Culture of Violence.

Negative Impacts on Productivity and continuing Population Loss

IMPACTS


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Conclusions and Policy Recommendations

A Radical Cultural Shift is Needed if the ICPD Goals are to be Realized in the Region

Dominant Model of Aggressive Masculinity Feeds into the Existing High Levels of Violence against Women

Encourages Men to Exhibit Aggression as their Badge of Masculinity

Positive Trend is that More Men are Challenging the Model of Aggressive Masculinity


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Holistic Policy Framework needed embracing Education, Health, Public Safety and Security and Socio-Economic Development

Implementation of Quota Legislation to Enhance Participation of Women in Political Decision-making.

Review School Curricula and Teacher Training to Integrate Emotional intelligence (EI) into Curricula at All Levels.


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Partnerships of State and Civil Society Parental/ Family Training Integrate Reality of Transnational Family

Framework to strengthen Regional mechanisms

Work with Youth and Male Partnerships for Peace in promoting Sexual Responsibility and Gender Equality



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Build on Good Practice in Region and Globally

Strengthen Regional Implementation Framework

Update Legislation, and Approve and Implement National Action Plans

Articulate Strategic Migration PolicyRosina Wiltshire Ph.D


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Cost Consequences of Implementation Deficit

Monitor Policy Implementation Nationally and Regionally

Actively Engage Diaspora in Agenda for Change



11 strategies to further promote gender equality, the empowerment of women and poverty reduction...

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