TCIG Delegation attends CARICOM Gender-based Training Workshops in Trinidad and Tobago

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – A two-person delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government recently participated in two vital gender-based training workshops in Trinidad and Tobago. The representatives, Mr. Fredrico Johnson (Deputy Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Home Affairs with responsibility for Gender Affairs) and Ms. Wendera Seymour (Statistical Manager, the Department of Statistics within the Ministry of Finance, Investment, and Trade), attended these workshops aimed at strengthening regional efforts to combat violence against women and girls and enhancing gender statistics and indicators.

Training 1: Regional Sensitisation and Training Workshop on CARICOM Agreed Minimum Standards for the Management of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Administrative Data (11-12 September 2023)

The first training, the “Regional Sensitisation and Training Workshop on CARICOM Agreed Minimum Standards for the Management of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Administrative Data,” was held from 11^th  – 12^th September 2023. This workshop is part of the Caribbean Regional Spotlight Initiative to end family violence, implemented globally in partnership with the United Nations and the European Union. The initiative focuses on strengthening national and regional capacities to collect, analyse, and disseminate data on violence against women and girls.

Key objectives of the workshop included:

• Sensitising member states on CARICOM minimum standards, ethical guidelines and protocols for VAWG administrative data.
• Finalising CARICOM minimum standards, ethical guidelines and protocols, including data-sharing protocols.
• Strengthening the capacity of participants in implementing minimum standards, ethical guidelines and protocols for VAWG administrative data management.

This workshop is in line with the initiative’s Pillar 5: Data Availability and Utilisation, which aims to improve data collection, analysis and programmatic responses to violence against women and girls.

Training 2: Gender Statistics and Indicators Training Course (13-15 September 2023)

The second training, the “Gender Statistics and Indicators Training Course,” was organised by ECLAC’s Division for Gender Affairs, UN Women and CARICOM. The in-person sessions took place from 13^th – 15^th September 2023 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, with additional virtual asynchronous modules running from September to November 2023.

Specific learning objectives included:

• Understanding the relevance of gender statistics in public policy formulation and monitoring.
• Learning the theoretical foundations of gender statistics and indicators.
• Understanding the production process of gender statistics and applying technical principles for constructing gender indicators.
• Analysing and understanding relevant gender indicators regarding inequalities and women’s autonomy.
• Using gender indicators in policy formulation and international commitment monitoring.

The participation of Mr. Johnson and Ms. Seymour in these workshops underscores the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s commitment to promoting gender equality and addressing violence against women and girls through enhanced data management and statistical analysis.