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

1. Strategies to Further Promote Gender Equality, the Empowerment of Women and Poverty Reduction Rosina Wiltshire PhD 1

2. 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

3. Enabling Gender Equality Legal Framework International and Regional Universal Declaration of Human Rights UN 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) 3 3 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

4. Strong Caribbean Frameworks Strong Constitutional Frameworks Stable Democratic Frameworks Independent Judiciary 4 4 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Gender Equality Gains The Caribbean has made Significant Advances in Gender Equality Legislation and Women’s Education. Girls Enjoy Equal Access to Education 8 8 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

9. 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 model In 2010 Guyana Passed a Sexual Offences Act enabling video link testimony. 9 9 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

10. 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

11. 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 11 11 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

12. 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

13. Political Context The Caribbean is moving towards a Population Profile with High Levels of Older People Women tend to outlive men Elder Abuse reflects the General Societal Domestic Abuse which Predominantly affects Women, Children and the most Vulnerable

14. Challenges Legal Implementation Deficit Relative 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 . 14 14 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

15. 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

16. 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. 16 16 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

17. 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 . 17 17 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

18. 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 18 18 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

19. 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. . 19 19 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

20. 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 20 20 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

21. 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 21 Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D

22. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations 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. Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D 22 22

23. 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 Conclusions and Policy Recommendations Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D 23 23

24. Build on Good Practice in Region and Globally Strengthen Regional Implementation Framework Update Legislation, and Approve and Implement National Action Plans Articulate Strategic Migration Policy Conclusions and Policy Recommendations Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D 24 24

25. Cost Consequences of Implementation Deficit Monitor Policy Implementation Nationally and Regionally Actively Engage Diaspora in Agenda for Change Conclusions and Policy Recommendations Rosina Wiltshire Ph.D 25 25