For Immediate Release
25th November 2022
Gender-based violence continues to be of an alarming concern in the Caribbean, occurring not only within households, but across other environments such as workplaces, schools, religious institutions, communities and online.
A survey conducted across 5 Caribbean countries between 2016 and 2019, indicated that on average, 46 percent of women have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. This includes physical, sexual, economic and emotional violence. The survey, a collaborative project amongst Governments in the Caribbean, UN agencies and other stakeholders, revealed that the most prevalent form of intimate partner violence against women was emotional violence, experienced by an average of 1 out of 3 women in the Caribbean in their lifetime.
Although gender-based violence affects both men and women, there has been increasing rates of violence against women and girls, often resulting in the loss of lives of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Violence against women and girls can affect the immediate and long-term physical, mental and emotional health of victims, survivors and witnesses of violence. It can further hinder women in the Caribbean from their full and equal participation in society, and in leadership.
The prevalence of violence continues to be stark. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America reported that between 2019 and 2020, 4 out of 9 countries in the English-speaking Caribbean experienced an increase in femicides (female murders) per 100,000 women – namely in Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL), as a non-partisan and independent, flagship networking organisation, recognises that violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, infringing on women’s rights to safety, freedom, equality and liberty. As such, the organisation is resolute in its commitment to be part of multistakeholder initiatives to end gender based violence. More needs to be done by all members of society, to ensure that there is greater prioritisation of the safety and freedom of women in the Caribbean.
Dylis McDonald, Project Coordinator of CIWiL commented, “The prevalence of violence against women and girls in the Caribbean is indicative of the wider problem of gender inequality and discrimination against women. It is reflective of just how deep-rooted and pervasive are patriarchal beliefs and attitudes which justify and normalise the control and subordination of women and girls. At CIWiL, we affirm that ending violence against women and girls is everyone’s responsibility. It begins with changing our own mindsets and continues with our advocacy and action to transform gender and power relations across all of society at the structural and cultural levels. To achieve this, we must have greater multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary collaboration nationally and intra-regionally. Members of civil society, government, academia, allies and intergovernmental organisations must work together more effectively to strengthen our data collection and research, regulatory frameworks, prevention and response efforts on gender-based violence, and our accountability to international human rights standards. Sustainable development cannot be fulfilled without meaningfully addressing violence against women and connected gender inequalities. All forms of violence against women and girls must end now.”
Photo: Members of the CIWiL Regional Secretariat staff wear orange for the launch of the 16 Days of Activism.
This year, CIWiL will once again join the global community to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism from 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ending on 10th December, Human Rights Day- indicating that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. The 16 Days of Activism is an international civil society-led campaign focused on the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.
CIWiL will be joining the United Nations Secretary General’s Campaign, themed “UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”. Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, all CIWiL National Chapters, across eight Caribbean countries, will engage in a series of advocacy initiatives via social media and in-person by partnering with local Departments of Gender, and other public and private stakeholders. This is envisioned to increase awareness on the scourge of gender-based violence in the Caribbean, provide a platform for the partnership and mobilisation of advocates, and to intensify the call to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls.
CIWiL invites all members of the public to unite to end violence against women and girls by supporting initiatives hosted nationally in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism. Persons can follow the official global campaign via the UN Women’s social media platforms, or learn more about ongoing national initiatives by visiting ciwil.org or the Caribbean Women in Leadership on social media.