CARICOM Raises Concerns Regarding Regression in Gender Equality at UN General Assembly

Thirty years after the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a stark reality confronts the international community: the promise of gender equality remains largely unfulfilled. This was the central message delivered by Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment of St. Kitts and Nevis, representing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at a high-level United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting commemorating the anniversary. The meeting, themed “Recommitting to, resourcing and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls,” served as a platform to assess progress, acknowledge shortcomings, and re-energize global efforts towards achieving gender equality. Clarke’s address, however, painted a sobering picture of regression rather than advancement, highlighting the persistent disparities and challenges faced by women and girls worldwide.

Clarke’s address underscored the chasm between the optimistic pronouncements of 1995 and the current state of affairs. The Beijing Declaration, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, envisioned a world where women’s rights were inviolable and their contributions fully recognized. Three decades later, however, the Minister pointed to “clear signs of regression,” citing unfulfilled promises, inadequate action, and a fading commitment to the spirit of the Declaration. She emphasized the enduring inequalities that women and girls continue to face, including unequal burdens, limited opportunities, and persistent threats to their safety and autonomy. Her words served as a stark reminder that despite decades of advocacy and policy initiatives, the fundamental promise of gender equality remains elusive for a significant portion of the global population.

To reinforce her message, Clarke presented a series of compelling statistics that exposed the global reality of gender disparity. She projected that by 2030, 8.1% of women and girls will still be living in extreme poverty. The underrepresentation of women in leadership positions was also highlighted, with only 28% of Ministers of Environment globally being women and women holding a mere 26.9% of parliamentary seats worldwide. The persistent gender pay gap remains a significant challenge, with women earning 20% less than men for performing the same work. Furthermore, women continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work, performing 2.5 times more than men. Overall, women enjoy only 64% of the legal rights afforded to men, a stark indicator of ongoing systemic discrimination. These figures, Clarke argued, paint a sobering picture of the unfinished agenda of gender equality and underscore the urgency of renewed global commitment.

Despite the global challenges, Clarke highlighted the progress made within the Caribbean region. She pointed to the presence of three democratically elected female Heads of Government within CARICOM as a testament to regional advancement. Further emphasizing the Caribbean’s leadership on the global stage, Clarke noted St. Kitts and Nevis’s co-leadership with Ireland in facilitating the passage of a UN resolution aimed at revitalizing the Commission on the Status of Women. She also underscored the commitment of CARICOM governments to reviewing and reforming outdated discriminatory laws and advancing gender-responsive policies and legislation. Recognizing the financial constraints faced by small island developing states (SIDS), Clarke emphasized the importance of budgeting and planning for equality, acknowledging that meaningful progress requires dedicated resource allocation.

Addressing the interconnectedness of gender equality and climate change, Dr. Clarke urged the international community to prioritize gender-sensitive financing mechanisms and support gender-responsive climate action. She emphasized the vital role of women in addressing the climate crisis and advocated for their leadership to be recognized and supported. Reinforcing CARICOM’s unwavering commitment to gender empowerment, Clarke called for concrete action, urging the international community to translate rhetoric into tangible outcomes. She expressed the hope that future anniversaries would not be marked by discussions of unfulfilled potential, but rather by celebrations of genuine progress towards a world where gender equality is a reality for all.

Clarke’s intervention at the UNGA served as a powerful critique of the gap between global rhetoric and tangible action on gender equality. By grounding CARICOM’s perspective in stark data and regional realities, St. Kitts and Nevis amplified the urgency of translating commitments into concrete action. With only five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Clarke’s message served as a potent reminder that the unfinished business of the Beijing Declaration demands immediate and sustained global attention. The time for complacency, she argued, is long past, and the international community must redouble its efforts to ensure that the promise of gender equality becomes a reality for all women and girls.