Civil Society Partnerships at the heart of Addressing Citizen Security Says the UN

Reaffirming its commitment to inclusive development, peacebuilding, and human rights, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, has successfully concluded a series of Civil Society Organization (CSO) Engagement Workshops on Citizen Security, across four Eastern Caribbean countries.

The sessions, coordinated in collaboration with national citizen security focal points, the UN Regional Peace and Development Officer and  the Caribbean Policy & Development Centre (CPDC), brought together almost 100 CSO representatives  across Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Citizen security is not simply a policy priority. It is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of sustainable development. Addressing it requires a whole-of-society approach, and civil society organizations are at the heart of this effort,” says UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Simon Springett.

The UN head underscored that civil society was an indispensable partner in addressing citizen security challenges through prevention, empowerment, and community-led solutions.

Citizen Security as a Development and Human Rights Imperative

Across all four countries, participants underscored that citizen security extends beyond law enforcement and must be addressed as a development challenge—one that directly affects social cohesion, trust in institutions, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this regard, civil society representatives highlighted their unique role as trusted community actors, often serving as the first to identify emerging risks, support vulnerable groups, and advocate for inclusive and rights-based responses.

Country-Level Highlights

Antigua and Barbuda

In Antigua and Barbuda, CSOs strengthened their capacity in civic responsibility, human rights, violence prevention, and community engagement, while exploring how grassroots initiatives can align with national and regional security frameworks. Discussions emphasized the value of CSO networks, documentation, and collaboration in amplifying community impact and influencing policy. 

St. Kitts and Nevis

The St. Kitts and Nevis engagement brought together nearly 60 CSOs and community leaders, reinforcing a public health approach to crime and violence prevention focused on early intervention, data-driven decision-making, and community partnerships. CSOs shared impactful local experiences in youth mentorship and community-based prevention, calling for greater cooperation, trust-building, and inclusive dialogue with authorities.

Grenada

In Grenada, a one-day hybrid dialogue placed civil society at the center of discussions on youth violence, community resilience, human rights, and cultural interventions. Government and UN representatives recognized that CSOs bring trust, cultural understanding, lived experience, and innovation, and emphasized the importance of meaningful youth participation. Proposed actions included strengthening early childhood development, establishing a central CSO coordination mechanism, and leveraging arts and culture as tools for education and rehabilitation.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The engagement in St. Vincent and the Grenadines zeroed in on the rising impacts of crime, gender-based violence, and data gaps, while highlighting the importance of prevention, psychosocial support, restorative justice, and community trust-building. During the session, the UN announced a Five-Year CSO Engagement Strategy (2026–2030) aimed at deepening collaboration and improving coordination across the Eastern Caribbean.

Shared Regional Priorities

Despite differing national contexts, CSOs across the four countries identified common priorities, including the need for strengthening data collection and evidence-based advocacy; expanding youth mentorship, skills training, and diversion programmes; integrating gender equality, inclusion, and human rights across all interventions; leveraging culture, arts, and technology as tools for prevention, education, and outreach and building structured partnerships among CSOs, governments, law enforcement, and the private sector.

Building on the momentum of these engagements, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office will seek to further advance implementation of its CSO Engagement Strategy (2026–2030) across the Eastern Caribbean. Continued efforts will also support improved coordination, information-sharing, and capacity-building among CSOs; strengthen policy dialogue and data-sharing to ensure community realities inform national strategies and continue promoting inclusive, prevention-focused approaches to citizen security aligned with the SDGs and international human rights commitments.