Using Data to End Gender-based Violence in Grenada

How many women are survivors of gender-based violence?  

Globally, according to an article published by UN WOMEN “an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older).” But if we were to pose this question in our region, could we provide the numbers? 

Based on the Report of the Grenada Women’s Health and Life Experiences Study (2018) 29% of women in Grenada have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner and 23% experienced sexual violence by a non-intimate partner. 

To date, collecting and comparing gender-based violence data in the Caribbean has been challenging. Gathering administrative data and understanding the nature of gender-based violence in a country are crucial steps in informing policymakers and assisting the design and implementation of effective policies to end it. The capacity to collect comprehensive, reliable, comparable, and up-to-date data on violence against women and girls is thus indispensable for developing effective solutions to end gender-based violence. 

During 2022, the Spotlight Initiative in Grenada and its partners developed Grenada InfoSAFE – a much needed digital incident reporting system focused on gathering timely local data on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Local data needed to be publicly available and internationally comparable to empower insightful analyses for effective policy decisions. To enable this, the system digitizes the data collection process and provides centralized incident reporting system to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the nature and incidence of gender-based violence in Grenada. And, subsequently, supporting evidenced-based policies to tackle local nuances of violence against women and girls. 

Spotlight Grenada Data Training Launch

UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

Grenada InfoSAFE was collaboratively developed with Grenada’s Central Statistical Office, the National Data Centre, and followed extensive consultation with civil society and key stakeholders in the public sector, including the Royal Grenada Police Force and the Division of Gender and Family Affairs within the Ministry of Social Development. The Spotlight Initiative provided the equipment necessary for the operation of the data system. Hardware and software were procured and distributed to the Royal Grenada Police Force and the Division of Gender and Family Affairs within the Ministry of Social Development, which were the data producing agencies, and to the Central Statistical Office, as the central hub. That said, a data system is only as effective as the information being inputted. 

UNDP worked with the Central Statistical Office in Grenada to deliver training that enhanced stakeholders’ capacities to use the system to collect and analyse VAWG data. The training sessions’ learning goals included improving participants’ knowledge and skills for data management and processing, data safety and security, and understanding the layout and functionalities of the web-based data system. Key institutions benefitting from the training were the National Data Centre, Central Statistical Office within the Ministry of Economic Development, the Royal Grenada Police Force, the Division of Gender and Family Affairs within the Ministry of Social Development, civil society, and other stakeholders of the Spotlight Initiative Programme.  

Speaking on the relevance of the project, UNDP’s Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Limya Eltayeb said: “The UNDP continues to ensure that national institutions have robust data, standards and systems that are coordinated and efficient in serving survivors of violence. We hope that our efforts will show how we can work together towards a common goal, with targeted investments for ending violence against women and girls and family violence in Grenada and the Caribbean.” 

While there is still much more to be done to end violence against women and girls, UNDP stands committed to ensuring no one is left behind. UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, in partnership with governments and stakeholders, remains dedicated to advancing inclusive and sustainable development in the region. The Grenada InfoSAFE (VAWG) intervention aligns with UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean's commitment to support equal societies to build resilience and preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

Grenada InfoSAFE was collaboratively developed with Grenada’s Central Statistical Office, the National Data Centre, and followed extensive consultation with civil society and key stakeholders in the public sector, including the Royal Grenada Police Force and the Division of Gender and Family Affairs within the Ministry of Social Development.