Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Saint Kitts and Nevis on Adopted Policies, Ask about Women in Agriculture and Human Trafficking

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the combined fifth to ninth periodic reports of Saint Kitts and Nevis, with Committee Experts commending the State on some of the policies it had adopted, while asking questions about enacting temporary special measures to promote women in agriculture, and the lack of prosecutions for human trafficking.

A Committee Expert commended the State party on some of the policies it had adopted, including the national adaptation strategy, national social protection policy, and the commitment made to gender mainstreaming in climate change actions. 

Another Committee Expert asked if the State party would consider an official policy or programme which targeted women farmers, in light of the fact that the agricultural sector remained dominated by men; 86 per cent of farmers were men; was this area ripe for temporary special measures?  The Committee was concerned about the lack of strategy for adopting temporary special measures in areas where women were disadvantaged.  This was a unique opportunity for Saint Kitts and Nevis to lead the Caribbean islands in introducing special measures to the agricultural sector.

One Committee Expert asked if perpetrators of trafficking in persons were being trialled and punished?  Could information on such cases be provided?  Were there campaigns to prevent trafficking in persons?  What protection was provided to the victims?  Was there a link between trafficking in persons and migration?  There was scant data when it came to prostitution; what was the current situation?  Was there a link between prostitution and migration?

Responding to questions, Isaleen Phillip, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said when it came to implementing special temporary measures for targeted recruitment, there was a need for public consultations, as imposing temporary measures could result in pushback.  The issue of agriculture and increasing female farmers had been looked into, as this was an area that could be strengthened.  A project had been implemented which stipulated that 20 per cent of farmers should be female.  Discussions had been held with the new Minister of Agriculture regarding increasing the number of female farmers.  Saint Kitts and Nevis would be open to considering temporary special measures in this area.

Ms. Phillip said human and sex trafficking was a major issue of concern, however, there were no formal reports available.  It was illegal in Saint Kitts and Nevis and there had been speculation that there had been trafficking and prostitution experienced within immigrant communities.  It was more likely that there was forced prostitution for those from immigrant communities.  There unfortunately had not been enough information to submit a complaint to the police for them to investigate.  It may be that further awareness raising within the public was needed, to encourage them to report instances of trafficking to the police. 

Introducing the report, Ms. Phillip said Saint Kitts and Nevis was a twin-island Federation located in the eastern Caribbean, with a population of around 55,000.  In August this year, Saint Kitts and Nevis had undergone a change in Government Administration, which resulted in the election of the fourth Prime Minister in the history of the Federation.  Since the 2022 election, women’s participation in political and public life had seen a marked increase.  2022 was the first time in the Federation’s history that had seen seven female candidates’ campaign for elections.  The new Cabinet had a female representation of 38 per cent, and the newly appointed Deputy Governor General was a woman. 

In concluding remarks, Ms. Phillip noted the Committee’s recommendations for improving statistics and data, legislation, and advocacy and awareness building, which were very important.  Saint Kitts and Nevis was committed to making strides in these areas Gladys Acosta Vargas, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in Saint Kitts and Nevis.  The Committee commended the State party for its progress, encouraging Saint Kitts and Nevis to implement all recommendations of the Committee. 

The delegation of Saint Kitts and Nevis consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities; the Department of Gender Affairs; and the Policy, Planning and Projects Unit.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-third session is being held from 10 to 28 October.  All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Friday, 14 October, to review the eighth periodic report of Belgium (CEDAW/C/BEL/8).
Report

Combined fifth to ninth periodic reports of Saint Kitts and Nevis (CEDAW/C/KNA/5-9).

Presentation of Report

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said Saint Kitts and Nevis was a twin-island Federation located in the eastern Caribbean, with a population of around 55,000.  In August this year, Saint Kitts and Nevis had undergone a change in Government Administration, which resulted in the election of the fourth Prime Minister in the history of the Federation.  The State’s Constitution prohibited discrimination of any kind on the basis of sex, and currently there were no laws that legalised discriminatory behaviour towards women specifically.  Plans were underway to form an inter-ministerial committee, which would form part of the strategic plan to influence cultural shifts in the elimination of discrimination against women.  Programmes in Saint Kitts and Nevis were being directed towards boys and men, to change discriminatory attitudes.  Activities were being conducted, which included panel discussions on men’s issues, and boys and fathers’ cook-off competitions, which promoted healthy expressions of masculinity in the domestic sphere, to break gender role stereotypes.

Cases of domestic violence were a cause for concern and were increasing steadily in Saint Kitts and Nevis, with a noted surge following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Statistics for domestic violence reports in 2020 revealed a 400 per cent increase in reports, where the total number of reported cases increased from 87 in 2019 to 359 in 2020.  To respond to this issue, a multi-pronged approach for system and cultural reform was required.  A gender sensitisation curriculum was revised for children under the age of 12, to teach children about appropriate behaviours when it came to issues of sexual conduct, the importance of consent, and how to recognise and report experiences of molestation or abuse.  Unofficial reports had been received regarding situations of human sex trafficking and forced prostitution, particularly among members of immigrant communities; this was a noted area of concern that needed to be monitored. 

Ms. Phillip said there was still no government-run shelter to house victims fleeing situations of domestic violence in Saint Kitts and Nevis; however, the Ministry had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with a privately-run shelter.  Since the 2022 election, women’s participation in political and public life had seen a marked increase.  2022 was the first time in the Federation’s history that had seen seven female candidates’ campaign for elections.  The new Cabinet had a female representation of 38 per cent, and the newly appointed Deputy Governor General was a woman.  Since the election, women had been appointed as chairpersons of statutory boards, as well as in prominent leadership roles, including Press Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations.

Training programmes for women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment were ongoing on both islands.  On health, a new oncology unit was opened at the main hospital in Saint Kitts, with local Breast Cancer Associations and non-governmental organizations working to promote awareness, coordinate support groups, and offer free mammograms to women regularly throughout the year.  The Saint Kitts and Nevis National Gender Policy and Action Plan codified the Government’s commitment to mainstream gender.  The strategic actions included reinforcing the role of fathers and men and care givers and home makers, which would strengthen family bonds while breaking gender stereotypes and toxic notions of masculinity that perpetuated discrimination and violence against women. 

Ms. Phillip concluded by acknowledging that there was still work to be done, and she looked forward to continued dialogue and questions from the Committee.

Questions by Committee Experts 

RHODA REDDOCK, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Saint Kitts and Nevis, said Saint Kitts and Nevis was one of the first countries in the world to establish women’s affairs at a ministerial level.  A longstanding concern was the absence of a national systemic data collection system, and it was hoped this would be prioritised under the new administration.  Ms. Reddock congratulated the State party on its adoption of the Optional Protocol in 2006 and legislation undertaken to reduce discrimination, including the Education Act of 2005, among others.  However, it was concerning that this legislation had not lived up to its promise as implementation and monitoring mechanisms were weak.  What mechanisms were in place to ensure implementation and monitoring of these pieces of legislation? 

How many cases of discrimination against women had successfully been brought before the courts in the last decade?  What mechanisms were put in place to increase the visibility of the Convention?  Would the State party consider adopting a comprehensive definition of discrimination against women, encompassing both direct and indirect discrimination?  Would there be a clear time frame for the domestication of the Convention in local legislation?  Would the State party be willing to review, with the aim to redress, the documents of the High Court, which affected women’s access to justice at this level?  Would it be possible to provide legal aid to those who were affected?  Did legal provisions create differences in access to justice for married and unmarried women in the State party?

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saints Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said that data collection was an ongoing challenge, and it was hoped that guidance could be offered for data collection moving forward.  The accessibility of the court infrastructure was something that was hoped to be addressed moving forward.  The public education and awareness thrust would advocate for legal aid to play an awareness raising role.  It was under this that the Ministry was aiming to improve the visibility of the Convention, whether it be hosting on the website of the Ministry or within the Office.  The current Act on Domestic Violence had issues when it came to victims accessing justice. 

In response to a question about the specific situation of Nevis, the delegation said resources were shared with Nevis and the Government was working to build the capacity of the Nevis Department of Gender Affairs. 

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert commended the State party on some of the policies it had adopted, including the national adaptation strategy, national social protection policy, and the commitment made to gender mainstreaming in climate change actions.  Would the State consider assessing the national poverty reduction strategy to ensure gender mainstreaming?  Was a gender equality policy adopted?  If so, what were the priority areas set by the policy and how would it be effectively implemented?  How did Saint Kitts and Nevis plan to engage with civil society with the implementation of the civil society agenda?  Would the State consider establishing a national human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles?  What were the obstacles perceived in establishing such an institution? 

Responses by the Delegation and Follow-up Questions and Responses

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Nevis and Kitts and Head of Delegation, said the poverty reduction strategy was under review.  Women made up the majority of single parent households which captured the lower socio-economic demographic.  Ten policy areas were addressed in the policy and action plan, including climate change and the environment, education for all, and the elimination of violence against women, among others.  These would be addressed to ensure women were at the forefront in these areas.  There were limited resources in terms of finance and personnel, and the Government was working on increasing capacity, to continue work around the implementation of the policy.  A gender expert would be hired to support a focus on gender sensitisation, particularly in the focus of the police and the judiciary.  The Government continued to seek the assistance of experts to assist with the implementation of the gender policy.  This was a federal policy, so plans would also extend to Nevis.  A census had been carried out, conducted with gender-specific questions, to gather gender-focused data.

A Committee Expert asked if there was a plan to make the gender policy more publicly visible?  Were there consultations with women’s groups and non-governmental organizations prior to publication? 

In response, Ms. Phillip said there had been wide consultations which took place regarding the gender policy, including with members of non-governmental organizations and the youth parliament.  The issue of visibility was something the State sought to address.  The gender policy was launched in June 2022, with separate consultations launched in Nevis.  Recognising that women accounted for more precarious labour, the gender programme aimed to increase women’s entrepreneurship. 

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert asked if perpetrators of trafficking in persons were being tried and punished?  Could information on such cases be provided?  Were there campaigns to prevent trafficking in persons?  What protection was provided to the victims?  Was there a link between trafficking in persons and migration?  There was scant data when it came to prostitution; what was the current situation?  Was there a link between prostitution and migration?

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said human and sex trafficking was a major issue of concern, however, there were no formal reports available.  It was illegal in Saint Kitts and Nevis and there had been speculation that there had been trafficking and prostitution experienced within immigrant communities.  It was more likely that there was forced prostitution for those from immigrant communities.  There unfortunately had not been enough information to submit a complaint to the police for them to investigate.  It may be that further awareness raising within the public was needed, to encourage them to report instances of trafficking to the police.  Migrant women who experienced violence or abuse could request to return home, and receive a free air fare to their place of residence from the Department of Affairs. 

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said the Committee was pleased to note progress made in the political participation of women, however, not enough had been done.  There were only two women in the Senate.  Had the State envisaged legal reforms which ensured women’s political participation, including quotas or parity? 

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said there were three women in cabinet, however, Saint Kitts and Nevis had been ranked lowly for women’s political participation for a long time.  The legal reforms for quotas had been considered; there was no opposition to this, but the real challenges came as a result of cultural attitudes, with women in the country reluctant to participate in political life.  Work was being done with youth, to instil the civic responsibility and duty, allowing them to step into public life.  Workshops and training courses were conducted which encouraged women leadership, allowing young women to connect with others across the region. 

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert referenced the National Equality Action Plan for 2022-2027, which stated that women needed to be a priority.  Would Saint Kitts and Nevis consider employing temporary special measures to advance the Action Plan?  How had this Action Plan mapped out the sectors where women faced disparities compared to men?  Would the State party consider an official policy or programme which targeted women farmers, in light of the fact that the agricultural sector remained dominated by men; 86 per cent of farmers were men; was this area ripe for temporary special measures?  The Committee was concerned about the lack of strategy for adopting temporary special measures, in areas where women were disadvantaged.  This was a unique opportunity for Saint Kitts and Nevis to lead the Caribbean islands in introducing special measures to the agricultural sector.

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said when it came to implementing special temporary measures for targeted recruitment, there was a need for public consultations, as imposing temporary measures could result in pushback.  This issue needed to be treated sensitively.  There had been discussions around targeted recruitment for sectors where women were clearly underrepresented.  The issue of agriculture and increasing female farmers had been looked into, as this was an area that could be strengthened.  Women tended to be more “backyard” farmers as opposed to those who made their living from farming.  A project had been implemented which stipulated that 20 per cent of farmers should be female.  Discussions had been held with the new Minister of Agriculture regarding increasing the number of female farmers.  Saint Kitts and Nevis would be open to considering temporary special measures in this area.

Follow-up Questions and Responses

A Committee Expert said public consultation was the baseline, and needed to provide a way of analysing the situation so it was comprehensible to the public.  When discussing the agricultural sector, this was part of the wider national goal of food security.  The justification and evaluation of the temporary special measures were vital. 

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, echoed a sentiment of agreement, and said agriculture was a prime opportunity for economic empowerment for women.  This was an area which was ripe for pushing women into and steps should be taken for incentivising women to enter the sector.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert asked about the content of government broadcasts regarding gender stereotypes within the home?  What was the State party doing to combat gender stereotyping in all spheres?  Would the State party consider adopting a national plan to combat stereotyping and its impact on the family?  What were the measures targeted at women, men, girls and boys to eliminate patriarchal attitudes and negative stereotypes?  The Expert commended the State for the amendments to the Domestic Violence Act, which allowed these crimes to be heard before the High Court.  Did the High Court have the power to remove the offender from the home, especially as there were no shelters for victims?  What programmes were in place for regular sensitisation and continuous training?  What was the status of the Domestic Violence Strategic Plan?

Did the High Court take into consideration the “battered women syndrome”?  Was there the possibility of mitigation on these grounds, in charges of homicide against women? There was no definition of rape or indecent assault which was a concern.  When would the Domestic Violence Act be amended to provide a definition of rape and of indecent assault, based on consent?  Could the situation of bribery from parents be clarified?  Had any parents been charged with bribery?  How were young girls protected against incest and rape? 

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said an ongoing boys mentoring programme sought to address stereotype issues, showing that participation in the domestic sphere was necessary for survival, and did not indicate a lack of masculinity.  Although the High Court provided a stronger authority, it did make it less accessible for women and increased the time taken and the cost.  The Government was seeking an amendment to the law, allowing cases of domestic violence to return to the Magistrates Court, so women could seek justice for these cases more easily. 

Ms. Phillip said sensitivity training and awareness building with the police force was something that the Government sought to push forward.  The Domestic Violence Protocol was launched in 2018, which outlined roles and responsibilities for the Department of Gender Affairs.  In light of the new Government Administration and an Attorney General who was supportive of the work done in eliminating violence against women, a definition of rape could be submitted as part of the legislative agenda.  Culturally, there were instances of parents complicit of inciting violence against young girls or their own children.  There were no formal protocols in this area; it could be strengthened.  There was a legal response in prosecuting perpetrators of sexual abuse against girls.  Even in an instance where children decided they did not want to continue prosecuting the parents, this could be continued if the prosecutor believed there would be a good outcome for the victim. 

Follow-up Questions and Responses

A Committee Expert asked if the High Court had the power to remove the perpetrator from the home?  What was the State’s position on criminalising marital rape?

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said the High Court had the jurisdiction to remove a perpetrator from the home.  There was no objection to criminalising marital rape, however, it did not currently exist in the legislation.

A Committee Expert asked what happened in cases of birth registration for children whose fathers were not present at their birth?  How many women became citizens under the State’s CBI programme compared to men, excluding those who received citizenship as a result of their partners? 

Ms. Phillip said in situations when a father was not present for the birth of the chid, a birth certificate was issued without the father’s name, with the opportunity for the name to be added later.  More men applied to the CBI programme, however, the specific data had not come through in time.  The delegation was unaware of initiatives to seek out women applicants for the programme as it was not really structured in that way.  Child protection services could request for children to be placed in foster care, if there was concern these children were being used in bribes or being sexually exploited. 

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said the school feedings programme was an extremely commendable initiative.  However, there were concerns, including stereotyping in education, where men went into areas like woodwork and technical drawing, while women went into streams like clothing.  While girls stepped into the boys’ areas, there were no boys stepping into the girls’ areas.  Would the State consider using temporary special measures and a well-crafted communications strategy to overcome this?  It was concerning that boys left school early to join groups which engaged in violence; could something be done about this.  There was a high level of school pregnancy.  What was being done to combat this?  Were males charged and prosecuted for statutory rape?

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said when it came to education, it was challenging to get boys into more feminine-oriented courses, particularly in secondary education.  However, in tertiary education, the numbers for male enrolment increased in that regard.  The Government Administration was looking at building a resilient future which had to prioritise climate change adaptation, and the curriculum needed to align with those needs. 

There was no data on inclusive integration in schools, however, there was a large population of Spanish speaking immigrants, and efforts had been made to group these students together to educate them and integrate them into the mainstream to ensure they were not left behind.  There was one school on the island for special needs, and the integration into mainstream schooling was slower, due to limited resources.  Statistics on teenage mothers seemed skewed, as these included girls up to the age of 19.  At risk girls were typically the ones who became pregnant at an early age.  There had been a request for more access to family counselling; this was sometimes a family issue, which perpetuated girls into these cycles. 

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert asked if there was a programme to allow every young girl to have the opportunity to participate in so-called “smart” courses, like science?

RHODA REDDOCK, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Saint Kitts and Nevis, asked if teen mothers could return to school and if they did?  Was anything done in relation to teen fathers to prepare them for fatherhood and to prevent further instances of teen fatherhood?

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said teen mothers and fathers could return to school and complete their education.  There were no programmes which spoke specifically to teen fathers; there were not as many teen fathers as there were teen mothers, which said a lot.  There were programmes which sought to encourage boys to become responsible men within society, but none which spoke specifically to parenting.  Creative skills were being offered for students to engage with the creative economy at an earlier age.  This was done to appeal to girls and boys who may be less academically inclined, but more creatively inclined. 

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert welcomed progress made, including the adoption of the Equal Pay Act in 2012.  However, there were concerns that although women had higher education, they faced obstacles in occupying well paid positions within the labour market.  What measures had been taken to encourage women to take up opportunities in the people’s empowerment programme?  How were the lessons learned from the failed skills empowerment programme incorporated into the new one?  What mechanisms were in place to encourage women to take up skilled trades and non-stereotypical occupations?  How was the Equal Pay Act monitored to ensure it was actually implemented?  Why was a draft Labour Code not approved?  Did the State party intend to enact specific legislation to address sexual harassment in the workplace?  Would the State party ratify the International Labour Organization convention on eliminating violence in the workplace?

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said the people’s empowerment programme was being revamped to include specialised training courses.  The Government was drafting a new bill for a national sexual harassment policy for the workplace.  When it came to the Labour Code, it was on the legislative agenda as an unfinished act which would need to be passed to complete the process.  The military forces had institutionalised their own sexual harassment policy, and the Government was trying to lead by example in this area. 

Follow-up Questions and Responses

A Committee Expert asked if there were labour unions, and if women were involved in these? 

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said there was an established and active union in Saint Kitts and Nevis, with women leading on this union. 

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert asked if there was universal health coverage and what this meant in terms of preventative medicine?  The Expert commended the State for becoming the second country in the Americas which had stopped the transmission of HIV from mothers to children.  What prevented the State from authorising abortion in the four areas which the Committee recommended?  Would the State consider decriminalising abortion?  Why were women affected more by diseases like diabetes?  Was there a proposal to address this from the preventative medicine side? 

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said the Government was committed to implement universal health care.  The prevalence of non-communicative diseases among women was due to lifestyle and biology.  Women need to make more effort to take care of themselves which was hard as they were required to juggle multiple balls.  Non communicable diseases were the number one health challenge in Saint Kitts and Nevis, with one in four persons having diabetes. 

Reproductive health care could be accessed through a private practitioner or a local community centre.  Resistance to the issue of abortion within Saint Kitts and Nevis was due to religious as well as socio-cultural reasons.  The State still valued the input of its faith-based organizations.  At this point, the situation was about opening conversations and recognising ways in which abortion could be offered legally.  Ms. Phillip said she was willing to bring this to the table to open the conversation, despite the social pushback. 

Follow-up Questions and Responses

A Committee Expert asked if there were any special State programmes which supported entrepreneurship for women, particularly in rural areas?  A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund showed that adolescents living in female-headed households in Saint Kitts and Nevis were more likely to be living in poverty.  Did Saint Kitts have a mandate to facilitate the inclusion of women in entrepreneurship particularly?

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said programmes targeted towards women’s empowerment had been considered.  Previously, funding had been received from the Taiwanese Mission to implement a programme for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.  Additional funding was being sought to reinstate this programme, following the success of the first round.  Micro funding for businesses, including street vendors, had also been successful.  The Government was trying to take a more gendered approach to trade and investment, to identify opportunities to empower women.

A Committee Expert asked if there were strategies adopted in the State programme which included a special point about entrepreneurship for women?  Were there specific statistics? 

Ms. Phillip said there were specific programmes for entrepreneurship for women, which she had previously mentioned.  There was a need to stimulate entrepreneurship for women and this was part of the State’s vision.

Questions by Committee Experts 

RHODA REDDOCK, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Saint Kitts and Nevis, recommended a specific programme to target women farmers which provided training and technical support.  What ways did women gain access to land in Saint Kitts and Nevis?  To what extent were women encouraged to enter the fields of fisheries, agriculture, and marine resources?  Would the Department consider providing mobile services to rural communities, to allow personal interactions with the women and girls living in these communities?  Were there programmes to support and empower women and girls with disabilities?  Was the Special Victims Unit of the Police trained to support women with disabilities who were victims of domestic violence?  What policies were there for the integration of Spanish and Creole speaking migrants into society?  Were there obstacles which prevented migrant women from full involvement in society?  If so, were there plans to address this? 

Currently five women were on death row in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and prisons were overcrowded, with poor facilities for women.  Were there plans to reconsider the death penalty within the State party?  Had the needs of women prisoners and women officers been addressed?  Saint Kitts and Nevis was highly susceptible to natural disasters, which were exacerbated as a result of climate change.  Had progress been made in developing a gender-sensitive climate risk plan?  What data was available on women’s access to services during disasters?  Were any programmes envisaged to increase the resilience of women farmers to climate risk?

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said there were social service satellite offices across the island which allowed access for rural women.  There were programmes within the sector which employed project-specific temporary measures; for example, a programme for farmers mandated that at least 20 per cent of participants had to be women.  Translation services were available for migrant women, and these women were able to access social services in their own language. 

There were no women currently on death row in Saint Kitts and Nevis.  A programme was in place to provide women in prisons with sanitary products.  Events were also hosted so women could connect with their children.  However, there were inequalities when it came to the treatment of women in prison; the male prisoners could currently leave to do community service, but women were not permitted to do so.  The Government was working to change this, to make it more equal.  Gender sensitisation within prisons was being undertaken.  Women were also provided with business and entrepreneurship training as part of their rehabilitation.  The Ministry took into account women’s needs when it came to disaster management, such as including sanitary pads in shelters. 

Follow-up Questions and Responses 

RHODA REDDOCK, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Saint Kitts and Nevis, said future plans for climate risk should clearly incorporate a gender perspective.

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, agreed with having the gendered lens documented.  The number of female fishers in Saint Kitts and Nevis was small, however, this was an area the Government was looking into to increase. 

Questions by a Committee Expert 

A Committee Expert said Saint Kitts had inaugurated its second High Court to reduce delays in access to justice, which was welcomed.  However, the change of the legal forum had had a negative impact on access to justice.  Single mothers tended to be limited to the Magistrate Court, whereas married mothers were able to petition the High Court, where pay outs were higher.  The key difference was income.  What were the effective measures that the State party aimed to take to ensure access to justice to all women, regardless of their income level?  What was being done to facilitate the access of women with disabilities to justice?  What were the steps necessary to include the father’s name on the birth certificate?  Was there a plan to address this problem?

Responses by the Delegation

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, said the inaccessibility of the High Court was noted and had been discussed with the Attorney General.  Changes would be enacted to ensure the court process could return to how it had been previously, with the legislative change to be passed in Parliament; in the interim, pro bono lawyers were available to assist women bringing their cases to the High Court.  If a father was not present at the time of their child’s birth, their name could be added at a later date, once the father presented to the birth registration office.  The process was not cost prohibitive.  Paternity leave was available for workers in the civil service and the private sector in Saint Kitts and Nevis. 

Closing Remarks

ISALEEN PHILLIP, Junior Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Head of Delegation, thanked the Committee for their time and attention.  Ms. Phillip noted the Committee’s recommendations for improving statistics and data, legislation, and advocacy and awareness building, which were very important.  Saint Kitts and Nevis was committed to making strides in these areas GLADYS ACOSTA VARGAS, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in Saint Kitts and Nevis.  The Committee commended the State party for its progress, encouraging Saint Kitts and Nevis to implement all recommendations of the Committee. 

Link: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/meeting-summary/2022/10/experts-committee-elimination-discrimination-against-women