RC Trebucq’s Remarks on the Closure of the Grenada Spotlight Initiative to End Violence Against Women

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Hon Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister
• Hon Gloria Thomas, Minister with responsibility for Social Development and Gender Affairs and lead Minister for this Programme
• Other Ministers of Government
• Dr the Hon Keith Mitchell, Leader of the Opposition
• Other Members of Parliament 
• Ambassador Gosia Wasilewska, Ambassador of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM 
• Other Members of the Diplomatic Corps
• Heads of UN Agencies
• Senior Government Officials
• Members of the National Steering Committee, Technical Coherence and Operations Committee and Civil Society National Reference Group
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning! 

Celebrating Success in Grenada

Today, we celebrate the successful completion of the Spotlight Initiative in Grenada. Doing this in the midst of the 16 days of activism to end VAWG is also an important signal. But this success is a tribute to the strength of our partnerships and our unwavering dedication to ending violence against women and girls. 

Working together with the Government of Grenada and in partnership with the European Union, the United Nations embarked on an ambitious endeavour to help eradicate violence against women and girls in Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. Today I must say that through Spotlight, we have made significant progress in preventing and addressing violence, safeguarding survivors, and empowering women and girls to reach their full potential. 

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed our progress and made the challenges we were facing worse. But it also showed how important it is for this program to go beyond its usual limits to protect women and girls during times of national crisis.

Celebrating Progress

The Spotlight Initiative, implemented by UNICEF, UNDP, PAHO, and UN Women, has left an indelible mark on the lives of women and girls in Grenada, and I congratulate our UN agencies on working together as one to deliver such impact. This is a tangible example of the new way of working of the UN, to address multidimensional issues, because no single entity, or single Ministry, can address it alone.

I also want to thank the EU for their precious support and true partnership for making this possible. 

From the announcement of the programme in 2019 until its conclusion, the Government and people of Grenada embraced Spotlight, ensuring its success through their dedication and collaboration. The Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs played a pivotal role in leading the program, and the contributions of other government ministries and civil society organizations were instrumental in achieving its success. The national ownership at the highest level was a determinant factor of success. I congratulate you for that. Please keep it up! 

But what exactly are we celebrating? Let me go through what the Programme enabled: 

•    Improved Responses for Victims and Survivors: Implementing comprehensive SOPs to hold offenders accountable; to articulate the response of the various sectors with training in the health, social, law enforcement and justice sectors. Supporting the drafting or amendment of 17 pieces of legislation. Retrofitting several spaces such as the CEDARS House which have improved the protection and support for victims and survivors of violence. 

•    Scaled-up Prevention Strategies: An expanded parenting education program, theatre and performing arts performances engaging approximately 2,000 men, women, and children. And the expansion of the Foundations program for principals, and guidance counsellors. This contributed to prevent violence at its root. 

•    Engaged National Consciousness: Officials from government and parliamentarians, the media, CSOs and communities have received specialized training and support to improve their ability to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in their respective roles.

•    and Leaving No One Behind: Rural communities, where women and girls facing multiple forms of discrimination, and vulnerable populations have been specifically targeted. E.g. Community Education Activities for vulnerable and 'hidden' populations, benefiting 1,500 individuals. Or 50 service providers were equipped to better serve Women and Girls with disability. We also supported 17 civil society organizations, strengthening their capacities so they could continue to reach out more people to prevent or address GBV. 

Of course, a lot remains to be done. It is also proven by research that family violence, violence against women, children, and community violence are interconnected and perpetuate a destructive cycle. It is critical to continue to break this cycle by addressing the core drivers of violence.

When I last visited Grenada a few months ago, I met with a group of survivors. They shared with me their experiences of receiving support at every step of their journey, from encounters with the GBV Unit and the Child Protection Authority to interactions with the police. Each of them is a story of a life that was broken; but also, a potential that was about to be lost for Grenada’s nation. But that support they got, gave them back first a sense of self-esteem, and then a sense of hope. Their stories also underscored the strong connections between women’s empowerment, economic opportunities, and ending this cycle of violence. They emphasized that ending domestic violence requires not only education, training or temporary protection; but also access to employment and long-term housing solutions.    

Given the complexities of this issue, which is not unique to Grenada, we can expect further progress through reformed policies and legislation, implementing coordinating mechanisms, and sustaining prevention efforts. We will continue to support you as UN family.

As we embark on the next phase of our journey, I also call all partners, both current and potential, to continue making GBV a priority in Grenada, building on the legacy of the Spotlight initiative. 

In closing, I want to echo the UN voice to the global theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism, “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”. So, let’s invest in a future where every woman and girl's potential are realized.