Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica

123 Pages·2013·1.86 MB·English

Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: May 2006

Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica
Ministry of Community Development,
Gender Affairs and Information

NATIONAL POLICY AND ACTION PLAN FOR GENDER EQUITY AND
EQUALITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA

Mohammed 2005

Prepared by
Patricia Mohammed, Lead Consultant
Centre for Gender and Development
The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine
Trinidad and Tobago
Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

NATIONAL POLICY AND ACTION PLAN FOR GENDER EQUITY AND
EQUALITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA

Prepared by
Patricia Mohammed, Lead Consultant
& Deborah Mc Fee – Research Assistant
UWI/CGDS Consultants
June 2006

with Members of the Technical Support Committee by Sector

ECONOMY, POVERTY AND AGRICULTURE
LABOUR Kervin Stephenson
Curtis Augustus
Andrea Shillingford RELIGION, MEDIA AND
Lyndell Williams CULTURE
Esther M. Thomas Sister Lorraine Royer
Norma Cyrille
EDUCATION Catherine Valerie Solomon
Dr. Kay Polydore Tim Durand
Dr. Alexandra Burton James
Ted Serrant GENDER MACHINERY
Nicholas Goldberg Rosie Browne
Virginia Thomas Roselyn Paul
Melena Fontaine
GENDER AND DECISION MAKING
HEALTH Kertist Augustust
Shirley Augustine Amonia Paul Role
Joan Henry Dr. Damien Dublin
Julie Frampton
REFORM MANAGEMENT
Ruth Allport
FAMILY, SEXUALITY AND Carrie Baron
VIOLENCE
Dr. Griffin Benjamin
Sophelia Hilaire IMPLEMENTATION TEAM
Vanya David Rosie Browne (Bureau staff)
Angelica Pierre Louis Martha Joseph (Bureau staff acting f. R Paul)
Natalie Rolle Claudia Bellot (Member W Bureau Adv Committee)
Michael Norris (Member W Bureau Adv Committee)
LEGISLATION Carrie Barron ( Rep. Reform Management Unit)
Gloria Septra Augustus
Everline Baptiste

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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

POLICY AND ACTION PLAN FOR GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA

When a society sets out to achieve equality, the concept must be immediately paired with
that of equity. Where equality is the ideal or equilibrium which the society strives to
attain, equity is the sense of fairness and justice and the laying out of actions which must
be taken in respect of differences found in any human population: differences by race,
ethnicity, geographic location, class, physical and mental disability and gender. To
assume sameness of all members of a population is not necessarily to treat them
equitably. The National Gender Policy and Action Plan advocated here have at its heart a
recognition and appreciation for the differences between men and women; differences
that are based on physiological and biological realities as well as socially imposed
constructs. Bearing in mind these differences, the Policy seeks to secure for men and
women alike the opportunities to maximize their potential as human beings and as
valuable citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Regardless of gender, or indeed
any other demographic categorization, we all require protection from harm and prejudice;
the provision of basic amenities including access to healthcare; opportunities for
education and training; and fair recourse to justice. However, what men and women may
require of these services, and the ways in which they make use of them, may differ. This
Policy attempts to identify a range of issues, systems and institutions that must take on
board these differences if all citizens are to enjoy lives free from fear and discrimination.

The provision of economic opportunities and a challenge to confront ideological
restraints which hold gender stereotypes in place are the first building blocks on which
the policy is constructed. The Budget address of the Prime Minister of Dominica for the
year 2005-6 indicates both an upturn in the country’s economic growth performance as
well as the willingness of the present government towards social protection and poverty
reduction, both areas which speak directly to concerns identified in this policy.

The document examines the key sectors in which gender issues surface in a society: those
of family, sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence,
education, health and medicine, pointing to the need for review of existing legislation or
for dissemination of information in many of these. It targets the areas of power and
decision-making as these involve women in the society. The eighty eight action points
advanced in this Policy demonstrate options for a systematized approach to gender-
awareness which accommodate and support equality between the sexes while recognizing
legitimate biological differences which should not provide grounds for discrimination.

The need for interventions is pervasive. Changes must come from all sectors and levels,
across a range of disciplines and interests and must be effected for all classes, age groups
and belief systems.

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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

List of Acronyms

AB
Aid Bank
 BERP Basic Education Reform Programme
 CAFRA Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action
 CARICOM Caribbean Community
 CARDI Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute
 CBO Community Based Organization
 CDB Caribbean Development Bank
 CDF Community Development Fund
 CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women
 CD&WA Ministry of Community Development and Women’s Affairs
 CGDS Centre for Gender and Development Studies
 CIDA Canadian International Development Agency
 COMSEC Commonwealth Secretariat
 CPA Country Poverty Assessment
 CSO Central Statistical Office
 DACAMEN Dominican Association of Catholic Men
 DFID Department for International Development
 DNCW Dominica National Council for Women
 ECCB Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
 ECIAF Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry
 EU European Union
 FDI Foreign Direct Investment
 GAD Gender and Development
 GD Gender Affairs Division
 GDP Gross Domestic Product
 GFP Gender Focal Points
 GMS Gender Management Systems
 GOCD Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica
 HIV/AIDS Human Immune-deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome
 IADB Inter-American Development Bank
 IICA Inter- American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
 ILO International Labour Organization
 MDGS Millennium Development Goals
 MOHSS Ministry of Health and Social Security
 MOCD Ministry of Community Development, Gender Affairs and
Information
 MOESYA & HRD Ministry of Education, Sport, Youth Affairs and Human
Resource Development
 NGO Non Governmental Organization
 NGPP National Gender Policy and Plan
 OAS Organization of American States
 OAS/CIM Inter-American Commission on Women
 OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
 OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

 PAHO Pan American Health Organisation
 PoA Plan of Action
 SAP Structural Adjustment Programme
 SGI/PGI Strategic Gender Interests/Practical Gender Interests
 SPAT Small Projects Assistance Team
 SGN/PGN Strategic Gender Needs/Practical Gender Needs
 STI Sexually Transmitted Infections
 UN United Nations
 UNDP United Nations Development Programme
 UNECLAC United Nations Economic Commission for Latin
America and the Caribbean
 UNIFEM United Nations Development Fund for Women
 USAID United States Agency for International Development
 UWI University of the West Indies
 WB World Bank
 WB Women’s Bureau
 WHO World Health Organisation
 WID Women In Development
 WTO World Trade Organization

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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttss

Technical Support Committee ii
Executive Summary iii
List of Acronyms iv - v

Part A Framework and Process 1

SSeeccttiioonn 11 PPrriinncciipplleess,, VViissiioonn aanndd AAiimmss 2-9

1.1 Guiding Principles
1.2 Concepts and Definitions
1.3 Policy Goal and Vision Statement
1.4 Strategic Objectives of the Gender Policy
1.5 Strategies to Achieve Policy Objectives
1.6 Institutional Framework
1.6.1 The Role of the National Machinery Commonwealth
of Dominica
PART B The Local and International Setting 10

SSeeccttiioonn 22 TThhee EEnnaabblliinngg EEnnvviirroonnmmeenntt 11-19

TThhee NNaattiioonnaall EEnnvviirroonnmmeenntt
2.1 Background
2.2 National Environment and Gender Machinery
2.3 International and Regional Initiatives and Commitments
2.3.1. CEDAW - A Rights-based Framework
2.3.2. The Beijing Conference 1995 and The Regional Climate for Gender
Policy Formulation
2.3.3. Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender and Development
2.3.4. OAS/CIM Inter American Commission on Women
2.3.5. CARICOM Plan of Action
2.3.6. Interrelationship of the International, Regional and Local Context

SSeeccttiioonn 33 TThhee PPoolliiccyy FFoorrmmuullaattiioonn PPrroocceessss 20-25

3.1 Overview
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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

3.2 Concept
3.3 Participation and Consultation
3.3.1 Integral Support of the Public Sector
3.3.2 Gender Sensitive Policy Training and Consultation, Preparation for Sector
Studies
3.3.3 Public Education and Media Sensitization
3.4 Research
3.5 Formulation and Implementation of the Policy
Diagram 1 The Consultative and Research Process
Diagram 2 The Process of Consultation and Policy Formulation

PART C Analysis, Policy And Implementation 26

SSeeccttiioonn 44 AA SSiittuuaattiioonnaall AAnnaallyyssiiss ooff tthhee CCoommmmoonnwweeaalltthh 27-50
ooff DDoommiinniiccaa ffrroomm aa GGeennddeerr PPeerrssppeeccttiivvee

4.1 Components of Population Growth and Natural Increase
4.2 The Economy of Dominica
4.3 Employment and Occupational Structures
4.4 Health and the Status of Males and Females in Dominica
4.5 Violence
4.5.1 Levels of Abuse within Relationships
4.5.2 Types of Abuse Suffered
4.5.3 History of Abuse by Respondents who Indicated Abusive Relationships
4.6 Education
4.7 Women and Political Participation

SSeeccttiioonn 55 TThhee CCoommmmoonnwweeaalltthh ooff DDoommiinniiccaa NNaattiioonnaall PPoolliiccyy 51-97
oonn GGeennddeerr EEqquuiittyy aanndd EEqquuaalliittyy

5.1 Gender and the Economy
5.1.1 Macro-Economic Volatility
5.1.2 Vulnerability to Natural Disasters
5.1.3 Gender-based Agricultural Planning
5.1.3.1 Gender Access and Agriculture
5.1.3.2 Alternative Agricultural Possibilities with Gender Based Initiatives
5.1.4 Gender Barriers and Access to Labour
5.1.4.1 Equal Pay
5.1.4.2 Protected Employment
5.1.4.3Paternity Leave
5.1.4.4H.I.V. Policy in the Workplace
5.1.5 Migration

5.2 Gender, Stereotypes, Cultural Beliefs and Practices
5.2.1 Gender and Religion
5.2.2 Gender Sensitivity in Media Management and Programming
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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

5.2.2.1 Programming Content
5.2.2.2 Advertising

5.3 Gender and Political Decision-Making
5.4 Education and Human Resource Development

5.4.1 Men and Masculinity
5.4.2 Equality of Educational Opportunity
5.4.3 Gender imbalances and Teacher training at primary schools
5.4.4 Gender and Curriculum Choices
5.4.5 Providing Support for Teen Mothers
5.4.6 Poverty and Education

5.5 Health and Medicine
5.5.1 Organizational Structure and Responsibilities of the Major Health
Providers
5.5.2 Women’s Health
5.5.3 Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
5.5.4 Health of Older Persons
5.5.5 The Sexual Division of Labour in the Health Care Profession

5.6 Family Sexuality and Gender Based Violence
5.6.1 Strengthening the Family Unit through Legislative Changes
5.6.2 Gender Based Violence
5.6.2.1 Male Outreach Programme and Gender Based Violence
5.6.2.2 The School Curriculum
5.6.2.3 Economic Empowerment and Gender Based Violence

5.7 Coordination and Implementation of the Gender Policy
5.7.1 Major Strategies to be employed
5.7.1.1 Capacity Strengthening
5.7.1.2 Gender Sensitivity Education and Training
5.7.1.3 Gender Mainstreaming and the Establishment of a Gender
Management System
5.7.1.4 Gender Sensitive Research, Analysis and the Development
of a Statistical Base and Information for Implementation
Strategies
5.7.1.5 Monitoring of International Treaties and Conventions

5.7.2 Collaboration and Networking
5.7.3 Gender Stereotyping, Subordination of Women Embedded in Social and
Cultural Practices and Non-Compliance with CEDAW

SSeeccttiioonn 66 AAccttiioonn PPllaann aanndd IInnddiiccaattoorr MMaattrriixx 98-115

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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

RReeffeerreenncceess 116 - 118

Part A : Framework and Process

Photo Mohammed 2005

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Policy And Action Plan For Gender Equity And Equality In The Commonwealth Of Dominica: June 2006

SSeeccttiioonn 11
PPrriinncciipplleess,, VViissiioonn aanndd AAiimmss

1.1 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica has shown its commitment to the
principle of gender equality at the national, regional and international levels in its ongoing
work. At the national level work to address fundamental structural imbalances that threaten
the concept of equality and equity dates back to the establishment of a Women’s Desk in
1979, later re-titled the Women’s Bureau in 1982. The Women’s Desk was established
through government initiative in response to a United Nations call for women and the issues
of women to be incorporated into the development process, coupled with the advocacy of
national and regional women’s organization to bring into the focus of national development
the inequity experienced by women. A national gender policy is a critical instrument which
reaffirms government’s commitment to gender equity and social justice and provides a
framework to guide and inform the transformation of existing inequitable gender relations.
The gender policy allows for a contextual and nationally relevant gender perspective and
analysis to be integrated into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all
government policies, programmes and projects.

It is important to recognize that the development of a national gender policy by the
Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica is not an isolated national process but one
influenced by a larger international and regional framework. Dominica’s agreement and
commitment to a number of regional and international conventions and treaties and various
institutional arrangements, need to be seen as being pivotal to a comprehensive policy
process. Of particular importance are the following:
 Ratification by the Government of Dominica of the Convention for the
Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1980
 The Government’s Commitment to United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
(1978)
 The Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (1985)
 The development of and sustained work on the five year Draft National Action
Priorities (NAP) post Beijing (1999) prioritizing the issue of Violence Against
Women and Capacity Building of the National Women’s Machinery as necessary
areas of action
 The establishment of Gender Mainstreaming as a pivotal strategy for the
integration of the gender perspective into national development
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