A CALL to establish a CARICOM Envoy to spearhead the Caribbean’s journey toward achieving just, peaceful, and resilient societies emerged as a major outcome of the recent event, Islands and Allies for Peace: Towards ‘Women, Peace and Security’ Solutions.
This initiative gained strong support from the African Union, UN Women, and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), underscoring a commitment to regional solidarity and security.
The Caribbean region, despite being relatively peaceful, faces escalating challenges from organised violence, crime, severe climate change impacts, migration surges, and widespread violence against women. These issues are compounded by growing security concerns such as armed violence and the regional gang crisis fuelled by drug trafficking and competition for trafficking routes.

A consultation held on the margins of the 69th Commission of the Status of Women (CSW69) focused on the development of a Caribbean Regional Action Plan to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda. The event was hosted by the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) – Caribbean and the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, with financial backing from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
UN Women Deputy Executive Director, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, highlighted the need for an expanded understanding of peace, referencing discussions from the recent SIDS4 Conference and SIDS Gender Equality Forum.
“The peace and security agenda is not just about the presence of active war and conflict; it is about the absence of total peace in people’s lives. Whether we call it violence against women, gang violence, or climate vulnerabilities, the essence of peace demands a broader perspective that enables effective responses. This moment calls for us to build resilience, rooted in the voices, experiences, and perspectives of women,” Gumbonzvanda stated.
African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security, Mme Bineta Diop, underscored the effectiveness of regional co-operation and policy frameworks in promoting gender-sensitive peace and security measures.
“The appointment of a CARICOM WPS Envoy is a significant step that will increase women’s representation in decision-making and peacebuilding. The Haiti crisis offers a clear example that peace cannot be sustained without women’s involvement. The African Union remains committed to strengthening relations with the African Diaspora, particularly in the Caribbean and within Haiti,” Diop affirmed, adding that the African Women Leaders Network will undertake a solidarity visit to Haiti this year.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP IN PEACE AND SECURITY
UN Women MCO – Caribbean Head of Office ad interim, Isiuwa Iyahen, emphasised the importance of linking the WPS Agenda with the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, marking its 30th anniversary this year.
“For more than two decades, the WPS Agenda has shown that peace and security efforts are more effective, sustainable, and just when women are at the table,” Iyahen stated.
Tonni Brodber, Head of Secretariat at the WPHF, stressed the need for increased investment in women’s leadership, which remains undervalued and underfunded.
“Women are not just victims—they lead recovery efforts after hurricanes, mediate community conflicts, and advocate for justice. In Haiti, WPHF is actively funding women-led organisations that provide critical support services, including safe houses, trauma counselling, and advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence and organised crime. This year, we are making an immediate investment of USD $2 million in Haiti and expanding support for women-led climate action across CARICOM,” Brodber announced.
Trinidad and Tobago reaffirmed its dedication to the WPS Agenda as the first Caribbean nation to pursue it. Kurt Meyer, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed alarming statistics on domestic violence between 2019 and 2022, with 8,829 reports filed and 144 lives lost—predominantly women.

He outlined several national intervention strategies, including: Research on the links between gang violence and gender-based violence; A national parenting programme; Engaging women’s networks within faith-based organizations to provide trauma-informed safe spaces; and Scaling up the retiree-adolescent partnership programme to promote senior women’s role in crime reduction and peacebuilding
Honourable Pedrica Saint Jean, Haiti’s Minister for the Status of Women and Women’s Rights, described the worsening crisis in Haiti, where over 300,000 people have been displaced due to gang violence. Reports of sexual violence have risen, and many survivors are reluctant to report crimes.
“Haitian women are not mere victims. They are the pillars of their community. They carry the hope of entire generations and refuse to abandon those in afflicted areas. They have organized a Solidarity Network, and while we work towards Haiti’s first National Action Plan, women must be at the centre of discussions on safety, governance, and reconstruction,” Saint Jean stressed.
Folade Mutota, Executive Director of the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD), emphasised the role of women’s leadership in communities affected by gang violence.

“Women’s leadership in preventing and reducing harm must be analysed, and their participation in small arms-control decision-making must be prioritised,” Mutota stated.
Haitian civil society leader, Pascale Solages, advocated for increased funding and recognition of local expertise.
“You have to trust Haitian and Caribbean women. We know our reality. We know what works for us. Activists and feminists in our region have solutions that need support,” Solages urged.
UN Women MCO – Caribbean Head, Isiuwa Iyahen, emphasised that the wealth of experiences shared at the event should be leveraged by other Caribbean nations. The comprehensive approach of the WPS Agenda not only tackles immediate security challenges but also fosters long-term peace and inclusive development across the region.