According to the regional organization’s website, the heads are reviewing the initiative, which seeks to address the issue in a comprehensive manner, at the 46th meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (Cohsod)-Gender, which began yesterday and will conclude this Tuesday in Barbados.

The undersecretary general for Human and Social Development of the Caricom Secretariat, Alison Drayton, said the meeting is based on the decisions of a meeting held in June 2021, in which member states agreed to support national consultations on the document.

Following widespread meetings, consultations and validations, both virtual and face-to-face, over 17 months, including a two-week extension, this Cohsod will seek approval of the initiative, she said, calling it a roadmap on the issue.

In her opinion, it provides a coordinated regional approach to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, which is aligned with one of the purposes of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and will be an excellent tool for coordination and implementation.

The undersecretary general considered that the participation of the ministers in the two-day event is an indicator of the strong commitment of the member states in this area and their partnership to promote the aspirations of a resilient and prosperous Community.

She said the meeting is being held under the theme ‘Inclusive and equitable futures: a post-Covid approach with a gender perspective’, which she said could not have been more timely for the region, given the unique challenges and opportunities of the pandemic.

She said it was a critical opportunity to take stock of the area’s progress in meeting regional and international commitments and the SDGs.

It underscores our region’s commitment to gender equality, recovery and resilience, while promoting the health and wellbeing of our citizens, particularly women and marginalized populations,” he said.

Caricom is comprised of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and British Virgin Islands are associate members.

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