Trinidad and Tobago has made history as the first Caribbean nation to officially launch a National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), with a focus on tackling gun and gang-related violence.
The National Action Plan was launched by the Office of the Prime Minister – Gender and Child Affairs at the Hilton Hotel Trinidad and Conference Centre on Wednesday.
The Women, Peace and Security agenda, or WPS, is anchored in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and was adopted on October 31st, 2000. The Resolution reaffirms the important role of women and girls in the prevention and resolution of conflict and stresses the importance of equal participation and full involvement in all efforts of peace and security.
Trinidad and Tobago’s journey has been assisted by the Government of Canada and the United Nations.
Canadian High Commissioner to T&T, Michael Callan, stated: “Today you are making history as the first Caribbean nation to launch a WPS National Action Plan. Here, you are joining more than 100 other countries and regional organisations who have taken this step, but you are the first in the Caribbean. That makes Trinidad and Tobago a Caribbean leader in recognising the multifaceted roles that women and girls, and men and boys play in security.”
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister for Gender and Child Affairs, Ayanna Webster-Roy, said the WPS National Action Plan will take a multifaceted approach where peace and security are not aspirations but realities.
“By equipping our young people with sustainable means of livelihood, we empower them to reject the lure of crime and embrace the dignity of honest work. Despite all of this, despite the efforts of our Government, we are still faced with a culture of crime and violence that we must address. Our Government believes that restoring peace and safety in our communities require an all-of-society approach. This means that every sector, every organisation, every individual must join hands in this vital endeavour.”
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and Suriname, Joanna Kazana, said addressing the issues of crime and violence in Trinidad and Tobago requires bold action and solutions to make peace and security a reality.
“So we are shifting the narrative. We are shifting the narrative from reaction to violence to prevention of violence, from exclusion to inclusion of women, and giving them the voice and leading role in building more cohesive communities, and also from non-peace to positive peace across the Caribbean. So I see it as a game-changing opportunity, and we are collectively really proud to be working with you in trying to create a society where violence, oppression and injustice are really the relics of the past.”
Though men and boys are mostly affected by the crime and gun violence, Minister Webster-Roy emphasised that the roles of women and girls to restore peace in society become amplified as the effect trickles down.
“I call on the public to actively engage in forthcoming consultations and research projects. Your experiences and voices are essential to our national progress.”
The Minister said the plan is not just symbolic but is designed to address the root causes of violence, which will in turn affect policy and encourage regional and international dialogue.