Outcome BRB_D_3.2

Regional and national laws, policies, systems and institutions improve access to justice and promote peace, social cohesion and security (MSCDF Outcome 7)

Regional and national governments, state entities, civil society, and private sector organisations were supported to enhance their capacities, policies and programmes on VAWG. Gender-responsive budgeting was re-introduced within the context of VAWG, and piloted in Grenada. A new and updated, fully costed, Draft National Strategic Action Plan on GBV 2023-2027 was completed for Trinidad and Tobago, along with accountability tools and knowledge products for the police and justice sector, and new gender-sensitive and inclusive training programmes in line with international standards. In Jamaica, UN Women MCO - Caribbean put the victim and survivor at the forefront of discussions, by supporting the development of the first Draft National Victims Rights Policy, along with consultations and assessments to support the strengthening of the Bureau of Gender Affairs to more effectively carry out its mandate. Prevention programmes promoting peaceful resolution of conflicts, increasing knowledge of gender and gender dynamics, dismantling hamrful norms and stereotypes, and accompanying advocacy campaigns and events reached thousands of residents across the region, through the MCO's work on the Spotlight Initiative, and through advocacy and communications during the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, International Women's Day, and the UN Women Foundations and Partnership for Peace Programmes. UN Women continued to work closely with the justice sector, and undertook a research project on the court-user experience in Jamaica, within a setting that is typically complex and inaccessible to most victims and survivors. The findings will support recommendations to be integrated into the court systems, to improve access to justice and the survivor experience. The capacity of officials across CARICOM in government, civil society, academia and regional intergovernmental organisations to collect and analyse VAWG data have strengthened. National systems to manage VAWG data have strengthened with the completion and launch of national protocols for the management of VAWG data, along with a minimum dataset on VAWG indicators in Jamaica. Institutional partnerships to collect and analyse VAWG data have strengthened with an Agreement signed with the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) of the University of the West Indies which will be delivering a Massive Online Open Course on VAWG Data in 2023. The knowledge base on publicly available VAWG data and research is on track to be achieved with research on the economic costs of VAWG completed in Jamaica, Grenada and Guyana. Women's rights defenders and civil society organisations were supported in new and innovative ways, as the office scaled up its field presence, reach and support, through comprehensive and accessible capacity building programmes, strategies and events, and through flexible and innovative financing mechanisms. Tailored learning cafes and learning sessions were held in 9 countries throughout the year, and a further 24 CSO organisations were able to network, strategise and develop skills in new areas at a signature CSO Retreat hosted by the MCO in Jamaica in August 2022. Social and public accountability tools and mechanisms were developed and piloted in key sectors, benefitting over 40 CSOs and state actors. The intersectionality of climate change, disaster risk resilience and VAWG was highlighted in the Resilient, Inclusive, Safe and SMART (RISS) Model, following community assessments in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and this data was used to pivot to increasing resource mobilisation efforts for programmes addressing these critical areas. Overall, the UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean raised its profile as a technical expert and leader on EVAW, with strong presence and an increased footprint in the media, increased requests for programme partnerships, and as technical leads on joint programmes. The Office also participated in several regional dialogies and exchanges in partnership with the IDB, on gender-responsive policing, cyber-bullying and cyber abuse in collaboration with CARICOM IMPACS, support to the Commonwealth Secretariat on Gender and Empowerment training for judicial audiences, and increased use of and reference to the UN Women-supported 5 prevalence surveys in the Caribbean region, Caribbean Women Count, the VAWG Data Hub, among numerous other speaking engagements and technical reviews.

Regional and national laws, policies, systems and institutions improve access to justice and promote peace, social cohesion and security (MSCDF Outcome 7)

UN Women supported strategic multilateral and multisectoral initiatives in 2024, aimed at increasing the technical substantive capacity of policymakers and key stakeholders to design, promote and implement gender transformative action plans. In January 2024, in recognition of UN Women’s technical leadership and championing of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) invited UN Women to join a Cabinet-appointed special advisory group to develop the first National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). In May 2024, UN Women supported WPS focal points within Government and Civil Society across Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, to participate in a Regional Convening on National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security. The 3-day workshop led by international and UN Women WPS experts, hosted thirty (30) participants in Port of Spain, and increased the capacity of peace and security actors to identify and frame issues within the context of the WPS Agenda, and to support the development of high-impact NAPs. UN Women provided significant technical expertise to the development process for the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in Trinidad and Tobago. The Plan was finalised and submitted to Government in November 2024, considering inputs from key stakeholders, international models and best practice, and technical expert advice. Additional efforts have been made to mobilise resources to support the implementation of the WPS NAP, and to increase visibility of the leadership of Trinidad and Tobago on the WPS Agenda in the region. Additionally, as a result of UN Women led efforts as part of the Spotlight Initiative, the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago approved the National Strategic Action Plan on Gender Based Violence and Sexual Violence 2023 -2027 (NSAP GBV & SV). UN Women continued to provide technical and financial support to the GoRTT with the launch of the NSAP-GBV & SV in March 2024, which is the State's roadmap and blueprint for preventing and responding to Gender-Based Violence. To support the implementation of the NSAP GBV & SV, UN Women coordinated and led a Gender-Based Violence workshop in Trinidad and Tobago on December 9th, 2024, which benefitted thirty-four members (34) of the Joint National Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups on GBV across Government, Civil Society and the private sector. The workshop increased awareness, knowledge and capacity related to Gender and GBV, and equipped participants with critical information required to oversee GBV initiatives within Trinidad and Tobago. In Antigua and Barbuda, UN Women supported a multi-stakeholder event during the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV with the aim of re-establishing the Suport and Referral Centre, which is a one-stop mechanism that provides medical intervention, psychosocial support, and legal advice to those who have experienced gender-based and sexual violence. UN Women previously supported the establishment and launch of the Centre in 2017, but its operation stagnated over time due to resource contraints. UN Women continues to provide resource mobilisation, advocacy and technical support to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, to ensure that the SARC resumes full operations and is a sustainable model for GBV support services. Under the Build Back Equal Programme, UN Women supported the launch of GBV Task Forces in St. Vincent and St. Lucia, and supported the updating of the referral pathway for St. Vincent. These task forces will oversee and provide guidance on national and sub-national Gender-Based Violence initiatives.

Regional and national laws, policies, systems and institutions improve access to justice and promote peace, social cohesion and security (MSCDF Outcome 7)

UN Women MCO - Caribbean supported regional and national entities and governments with the finalisation and approval of national plans and policies on gender and GBV in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and regionally with the development of a revised CARICOM Gender Equality Policy. UN Women supported capacity building on gender-responsive budgeting, and national GRB assessments in 3 countries to provide evidence for decision-making and sustained financing to address VAWG. The office continued to support institutional strengthening, through the rollout of the gender-responsive policing programme in Trinidad and Tobago, and support for Parliamentarians to increase their joint advocacy on issues related to Gender and GBV. UN Women continued to utilise evidence-based approaches toward the prevention of VAWG, including the rollout of the Foundations Programme in Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and the rollout of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) rehabilitation programme in Antigua and Barbuda. The PfP programme also benefitted from a major overhaul and update, to address new and emerging issues related to VAWG, since its inception over 15 years prior, and to address lessons learned including operational constraints in its implementation. This programme is being adapted and implemented by Judiciaries within the region, following several successful workshops and sensitisation efforts in 2023. Significant strides were made in data availability and capacity, including the development and approval of CARICOM guidelines and protocols on the collection and use of administrative data on VAWG, and a multi-country study on the Economic Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls, launched in Jamaica, and completed in Guyana and Grenada. The MCO also worked to support 23 civil society organisations in prevention and response efforts, through the small grant funding modality aimed at increasing technical substantive capacity of organisations working on EVAWG. The office also convened regional networks of civil society through intergenerational dialogues and fora, and supported Civil Society Reference Groups to produce sustainability plans during UN Women-funded workshops and by providing technical expertise. The MCO strengthened multi-sectoral partnerships, including supporting 15 new WEPs signatories in Guyana with the development of Gender Action Plans, and 8 signatories with the development of Domestic Violence policies. The MCO was successful in launching the concept of Women, Peace and Security to the Caribbean region by supporting Trinidad and Tobago's membership in the global WPS Focal Point Network and hosting a National Workshop on WPS in collaboration with the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Canada, to address growing security concerns within the region, and to support women's active participation in peacebuilding and social cohesion. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago invited UN Women to join the special advisory group on WPS, to develop the first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, in 2024.