Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of HOME AFFAIRS in collaboration with the Economic of Latin America (ECLAC) Completed Phase II of Gender Statistics Training on November 13th – 14th  2024

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, 

Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 20^th November 2024 – The Department of Gender Affairs, within the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and The Tele Communication Commission successfully hosted Phase II of the Gender Statistics Training, on November 13^th -14^th, 2024. This phase saw the completion of the programme’s final three modules, which focused on using gender statistics to design and inform policies, applying international standards, and building capacity in data collection.

The sessions were facilitated by Statistical expert Mr. Abdullahi Abdulkadri, Coordinator within the Statistics and Social Development Unit of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The session which was held at the Atrium opened with remarks from the Director of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Carolyn Dickenson. She expressed how timely this training was as the country embarked on implementing gender-responsive budgeting across the government. This will ensure the prioritiation of women’s, men’s, girls’, and boys’ rights throughout the entire budgeting cycle as gender-responsive budgeting aims to influence not only the budgeting process but also the policies that underpin it. This however cannot be achieved without understanding how gender statistics impact the decision process.

Ms. Keisha Taylor, our recently appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs brought remarks on behalf of the Honourable Otis Morris, Minister of Home Affairs which highlighted the significance of the Training.

In the spirit of collaboration and progress, the minister expressed his profound gratitude for the two-day training in gender statistics.  He affirms “my ministry’s commitment, and that of our government, is to ensure that the knowledge and expertise resulting from the workshop will foster a greater understanding of the importance of desegregated data, the design and development of policies, programs, and procedures to promote gender equality and equity.”  He encourages all stakeholders, to continue to work Together, as we bridge gaps and lay the foundation for the future growth and just economic development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Department of Gender Affairs is grateful to all participants who were actively engaged in the  in-depth training to enhance their skills in analysing and applying gender statistics to their respective areas of work. These include the Statistics Authority, Department of Trade, Industry and Fair Competition, Ministry of Education, Department of Social Development, Ministry of Health, and the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit of the Police.

The Deputy Attorney General Ms. Khalila Astwood, while representing the Attorney General chambers expressed the need to have follow-up training for individual departments based on the current directions of the country at this time.

During the sessions, participants were allowed to present on issues relevant to their organizations, addressing key questions to develop gender-sensitive data collection tools. They designed questionnaires targeting specific groups and outlined statistical analyses to uncover gender disparities and provide evidence-based recommendations for policy change.

Looking ahead, the department of Gender Affairs aims to build on the outcomes of this training by planning a practical workshop on Gender Statistics. This multifaced workshop will further assist in embedding gender-responsive strategies and actions within their operational frameworks.  This initiative represents a significant step forward in advancing gender equity in the Turks and Caicos Islands, demonstrating the government’s commitment to using evidence-based approaches to create a more inclusive society.

For more information on the work of the Department of Gender Affairs and resources, please contact the Department of Gender Affairs via telephone at 649-338-2681 (Grand Turk), 649-338-2686 (Providenciales). You can also contact the Department via email at genderaffairs@gov.tc. Continue to look out for its various activities on facebook.com/genderaffairstci or Instagram:@genderaffairstci.