Panel of experts address gender inequality in the Caribbean

According to a panel of experts, a need for gender-responsive, inclusive approaches, laws, and policies that address gaps in early childcare services are among the responses needed to address the worsening issue of gender inequality in the Caribbean

The panel of experts posited their views at a seminar entitled “Solutions on All Sides: Addressing Multiple Crises to End Gender Inequality”, hosted by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) at their Annual Meeting held recently in St Lucia

The seminar was staged to find solutions to counter the setbacks from recent challenges and crises which slowed progress on gender equality, social equity, and access to justice

A Virtual Solutions Room, featuring key professionals, provided innovative solutions to the issues raised by the panel of experts that included Ms. Judith Wedderburn, board director of Women’s Media Watch Jamaica, Ms Nicole Pitter Patterson, international trade and gender expert, Dr Halimah Deshong, Head and Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Development and Gender Studies at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Ms Michele Irving, President of the Belize National Women’s

Commission, and Ms Tamara Huggins, Director of Women’s Voice and Leadership Equality Fund Caribbean

Lack of involvement of women in leadership in the public and private sectors, occupational segregation, a widening gender pay gap than that of many developed countries, exclusion of indigenous women and vulnerable groups from decision-making, and waning motivation to find funding for human rights matters were some of the issues raised

Marissa Hutchinson, Environmental Justice Program Officer at the International

Women’s Rights Action Watch – Asia Pacific, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had raised awareness of the need for gender-responsive approaches in relief and grant-based funding

“It is likely to address and accommodate the unique needs of women and girls and other vulnerable groups, and this is important in preventing them from further marginalization,”

Ms Hutchinson said, adding that investing in community resilience was also important

Ms Ashlee Burnett, founder of Feminitt Caribbean, said prevention through evidence and age-based comprehensive sexuality education for young people was one means of addressing gender-based violence across regional development sectors

“Whilst there is push-back against implementing Comprehensive sexuality education and a lack of political will to find alternatives, we can also commit to an interim strategy that focuses on out-of-school training and engagement for young people and this also provides an opportunity to engage parents and guardians in programming,” Ms Burnett said, adding that a whole of community approach would be necessary for the strategy to be effective

Ms Kavell Joseph, a consultant with the World Bank’s Latin America and Caribbean Gender Equality Action Lab, addressing the question of how to put research into practice to recognize the fullness of women ’ s economic participation, stated that a three-pillared childcare policy was needed to address gaps

“An adequate childcare policy should have (sic) availability, affordability, and quality To ensure convenience, childcare laws should regulate the hours of operation that should at minimum, accommodate the needs of parents working full time,” she said