Gender equality in the Caribbean requires a transformative approach says former UN Women Caribbean Head

Achieving true gender equality in the Caribbean requires more than just responsive actions—it demands a transformative shift in how institutions and governments address the barriers that perpetuate inequality.

This was the key message from Tonni Brodber, former Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) – Caribbean, as she addressed over 40 UN staff members during an inaugural staff Community of Practice session at UN House themed: From Resolution to Action: Gender Equality as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development.

The hybrid initiative, which saw participation from UN staff across the Eastern Caribbean, seeks to bridge gaps across UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes,  providing staff with greater insight into Agency-specific priorities and updates on emerging global issues that may be outside of their mandates.  Moreover, it aims to strengthen internal communications and build synergies to enhance joint approaches to UN work in the region.

Leading the participatory session, which included staff surveys and a high-level of engagement, Ms. Brodber said the Caribbean requires gender-transformative actions that tackle the deep-rooted barriers to equality.

“Gender responsiveness means acting on the issue, but gender-transformative actions are what we need, especially with states. We must address the barriers that states may not even realize are keeping certain groups out,” she underlined.

Using an example from the COVID-19 pandemic, when some regional leaders allowed workers to return to work while keeping schools closed, Ms. Brodber noted that this posed a major challenge, particularly for caregivers, who were predominantly women. 

“When leaders across the region said you can go back to work after COVID-19 but schools were closed… people said you know, we are depending on you, the older women in society, [to help take care of the children] but some of them were also working.”

For Ms. Brodber, being gender-transformative means creating systems that allow both women and men to participate equally in the workforce, such as opening schools, adjusting work hours, and recognising the structural burdens on caregivers.

She emphasized that gender equality also entailed ensuring that the needs of men were also taken into consideration . 

Unpaid Care Work

The session also brought to the fore the issue of unpaid care work, which was the focus of a recent UN Women-led study on the topic ‘Assessing the Impact of Unpaid Care Work on Families in Barbados’. Ms. Brodber told the forum:

 “We still have serious gaps as it pertains to women's empowerment, and you won't have gender equality without us addressing these gaps right now, like unpaid care work.”

She noted that unpaid care work disproportionately affects women, who are often expected to organize after-school activities, cook, and manage household tasks.  According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Women, unpaid work refers to tasks such as caregiving, household chores, and community service that are performed without financial compensation.

Ms. Brodber also highlighted the challenges women face in business and entrepreneurship. “In the Caribbean, women own only 8% of registered businesses, most of which are sole proprietorships. If these women fall ill or need to care for a child, their businesses suffer,” she explained, emphasizing the structural barriers to entrepreneurial success.

Turning to systemic disadvantages, Brodber remarked, “Historically, our institutions have privileged men.” She cited an example from the 1980s, when women in many Caribbean countries were required to have male family members co-sign loans or open bank accounts—an issue more rooted in gender than ability.

Beijing +30: Progress and Challenges

The discussion also focused on the broader global movement for gender equality, particularly the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. Ms. Brodber underscored the significance of the 1995 Beijing Conference, where world leaders committed to addressing gender inequality in areas such as education, health, violence, and economic participation.

Despite some progress, many of the issues outlined in the Beijing Platform remain unresolved.  “We’re still talking about women’s representation in leadership, pay gaps, and unpaid care work,” Ms, Brodber observed making the point that the Beijing Platform is a reminder that gender equality isn’t a one-time effort but requires sustained commitment.

The forum,  which was organized by the UN Communications Group, is expected to be a bi-monthly initiative , to be led by various UN AFPs. Some of the Agencies represented at the inaugural session included the UN Resident Coordinator Office, UN Women, UNDP, PAHO, UNICEF, FAO, WFP,  ILO, and the UN Information Centre (UNIC). 

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This story was first published by UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.