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The Sustainable Development Goals in Trinidad and Tobago
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earthโs environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in MCO Trinidad and Tobago:
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04 March 2024
IWD 2024: The Role of Women in the Clean Energy Transition
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, delivered remarks at an International Women's Day event entitled, "Counter Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerating Progress - 'A Different Energy.'"The event was hosted by WE Thrive and Words Matter Communications and held at the Hilton Trinidad. Women from the energy sector were the target audience for this meeting. The discussions aimed to underscore the indispensable contributions of women to the success of the energy sector.In her remarks, RC Kazana focused on Trinidad and Tobago's growing push to expand its renewable energy production and the role that women should and are playing in this just energy transition. Below are her full remarks: Madam Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to be standing in front of you on behalf of the United Nations and to be part of a conversation of women who have stamped their mark on the industry they work for.I thank the organisers, -- โWe Thriveโ and Words Matter Communications, for the invitation and opportunity to start this yearโs celebrations of the International Womenโs Day at this event.When I look around this room, I see many faces in the top tier of Trinidad and Tobagoโs energy sector companies; trailblazing women who have ascended to influential leadership positions. As your theme makes clear, women bring โA Different Energyโ to every boardroom, every project management space, every innovation or meeting. In spite of this, I am sure many of you in this room have also lived the experience of being the minority. The 2018 International Energy Agency report states that globally energy sector has 76% fewer women than men in its workforce. It is a significant difference from the average gap and it makes energy one of the most male-dominated sectors in the world. The good news that in the sector of โdifferentโ that is clean energy, the share of women is already 32%.According to the Centre for American Progress, Increasing Womenโs participation in the clean energy economy will further progress on climate action and improve womenโs economic security.So the question today is how can the energy sector โ both traditional and new energy companies foster a more inclusive work environment for women? How can companies and communities as a whole really โCount Her In?โ at all levels?We contemplate this question in the context of International Womenโs Day, which underscores the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 -Gender Equality. At the UN we believe that letting women lead and direct the path towards sustainable development goals is key for accelerating progress.And accelerate we must โ according to SDG 7, by 2030, there should be universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services โ particularly renewable energy sources. In the next 6 years, the world is to double the global energy efficiency rate. Trinidad and Tobago has demonstrated its commitment to expanding the mix of renewables. Over the years, Government has rolled out numerous tax incentives for vehicle owners who use CNG, hybrid power and electric power. Your service station retailers, NP and Unipet, are providing EV charging stations and incorporating solar power into the service stationโs operations. Government has ordered 300 electric buses to help reduce transport sector emissions.There are groundbreaking ventures in solar energy and there is strategic interest and commitment to position T&T as a leader in hydrogen energy. During COP 26 in 2021, the Prime Minister committed to enhancing the countryโs renewable energy to 30 percent of energy mix by 2030. Colleagues, the energy transition is already underway in Trinidad and Tobago. And the UN System is helping to build momentum.UNDP with funding from the European Union, worked with the Ministry of Energy to develop a national renewable energy policy. UNDP also helped devise a licensing structure and a feed-in tariff policy. Working with the Ministry of Planning, we outfitted 12 sites โ including panyards, schools and nature conservation centres - with solar power. This groundwork supports Trinidad and Tobagoโs effort to achieve its target, under the Paris Agreement, to reduce emissions by 15%. Beyond the policy-making level, consumers are also keen to play their part in the green transition.In 2023, a UNDP GCCA+ survey found that 8 out of 10 people in Trinidad and Tobago are interested in installing solar panels in their home. (I suppose it would be 10 out of 10 if all respondents were women ;-)As you know, the Paris Agreement is a commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and the last COP28 climate talks made an important step toward this net zero reality: it was the first time countries agreed, explicitly, to phase out fossil fuels. The COP 28 declaration signals a shot in the arm for the clean energy transition. But if we do not โCount Her Inโ at all levels and stages of the shift to clean energy, we are missing an opportunity to accelerate and deliver a just transition. Women are a transformational force that must be activated to ensure the success of the clean energy evolution:- as designers of engineering and financial solutions, - as implementers of projects - as educated and sustainability conscious end-users of renewable energy policies, technologies and energy efficient practices.As the UNIDO and UN Women โGuide to Gender Equality in the Sustainable Energy Transitionโ tells us, we need the innovation and operational efficiencies that womenโs participation and leadership can bring. The transition also requires investment in womenโs expertise and ideas. We need to make space for women-led small and medium enterprises within the energy sector. Of vital importance are inclusive financing mechanisms to support women-led renewables projects that stimulate economic growth and help develop the clean energy industry.Women need to be part of climate change governance at the policymaking level. Here I would like to acknowledge toe work of the Minister of Planning and Development, The Honourable Pennelope Beckles. I think all of us will thank her for championing and spearheading invaluable progress in the legislative, policy and administrative sphere to facilitate the energy transition. She is leading the charge domestically and on the global arena, joining hands with other formidable women leaders from the Caribbean and beyond. We need to tap into the expertise and the drive of women like Minister Beckles. While ensuring gender equality in the workplace, we must look at our schools, universities and training institutions where girls need access and opportunities in Science and technology. We must invest in young women and equip them with the right skills for these careers, also by propelling girls towards careers in the IT sector Last year, here in this hotel, the UN TT hosted a youth Battle Bots competition for 120 students from across TT. Indeed, girls were part of the second and third place teams. Ladies,As Trinidad and Tobago turns towards a โDifferent Energy,โ it will be your energy that will propel change โ the change thatโs needed to slow the trajectory of the climate crisis.The UN in Trinidad and Tobago remains ready to work with you, and for you, to advocate for inclusion. We bring our expertise and the global arena for TT to shine as the country expands its clean energy and harnesses the potential of women consumers to make energy-conscious decisions that protect our planet.I congratulate each of you for your professional success and for paving the way for women and girls in this industry and in the society. On behalf of the United Nations, I wish you all a Happy International Womenโs Day.Thank you.
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05 February 2024
18 Teams, 1 UN Family: 2024 Strategic Retreat
So numerous are the strands of sustainable development that it takes many UN teams working together to support countries in achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
That's why it's important to bring together the leaders of these UN teams, so collaboration is well-coordinated towards shared objectives. Our UN in T&T family kicked off 2024 with a strategic planning retreat from January 17 to 18 in Port of Spain. The two-day discussions identified needs and opportunities to innovate the way we work and cemented priorities for the UN's joint work in Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten.
Heads of Agency and programme staff from 18 UN agencies attended. Most participated in-person, while others attended virtually from regional offices in Jamaica and Panama.
Agencies represented include:
UNICEF
IOM
ILO
UNDP
UNHCR
UN Women
UNIC
UNFPA
FAO
PAHO/WHO
ECLAC
ITU
UNAIDS
UNDRR
UNCDF
WFP
UNEP
During her welcome remarks, UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, spoke about the extensive commitment the UN has made to supporting national development agendas in T&T and the Dutch Islands. She suggested points of reflection for the team.
"Looking at the size of our UN Country Team which covers these four countries, there is clearly a significant investment of expertise and capacity being made by the UN into sustainable development in this part of the Caribbean. There are nearly 250 of us based in Port of Spain, and many more of us with responsibility for these countries from other bases in the Caribbean or regional offices in Panama. In Trinidad and Tobago, as a high-income country, what is the value added that the UN can bring to the country's sustainable development agenda? What is the value added we want to bring to Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten? These are key questions we must continue to consider as we plan for 2024."
Strategic sessions focused on the UN Country Team's key achievements in 2023 and lessons learned; the global and regional context for human rights, economic progress and climate financing; progress on the Sustainable Development Goals in Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Islands; and priorities for joint advocacy, strategic planning and resource mobilisation.
To gain insights into financing for development, the UN team heard from EU Ambassador, His Excellency Peter Cavendish, CAF Trinidad and Tobago Representative, Mr. Bernardo Riquena, and IDB Senior Climate Change Specialist, Mr. Gerard Alleng. They spoke about their organisations' priority areas for development support, from digitalisation to food systems.
Reflecting on the rich discussions among the UN teams, FAO Representative ad interim for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, Gillian Smith, said, โThe Coordination Retreat was an excellent opportunity for the agencies to meet with each other and key partners, to reflect on the agenda of T&T and the Dutch Islands to achieve the SDGs and how we can work collaboratively to contribute to this. The outcome of the retreat clearly indicated that working together will reinforce our capacities and our results.โ
UNDP Trinidad and Tobago Resident Representative, Ugo Blanco, said the strategic dialogue between UN agencies underscored the UN's "commitment to addressing the interconnected challenges that nations face in the 21st century, particularly on areas related to digitalisation for inclusive development, promoting economic diversification to enhance resilience and implementing strategies to combat climate change while accelerating energy transition."
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07 February 2024
UNICEF and Central Statistical Office Deliver Vital Data on Women & Children
Policymakers now have insights into the needs and challenges facing children and women in Trinidad and Tobago, after the publication of the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey report.
The survey, conducted by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in partnership with the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean office, was launched on January 26 at the Ministry of Planning in Port of Spain.
Nearly 7,500 households participated in the survey, which was conducted from August to December, 2022.
The survey covered a vast array of issues, including breastfeeding rates, immunization uptake, early childhood development, forms of discipline used with children, and water and sanitation access.
Delivering remarks, UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, said,
"๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง, ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง."
Minister of Planning and Development, The Honourable Pennelope Beckles, and Acting Director of Statistics at the CSO, Mr. Andre Blanchard Key, also attended the MICS report launch.
Key findings from the MICS include:
67% of children ages 1-14 experience some form of violent discipline
45% of babies were breastfed until age 1
Mothers were 3 times more likely to support young children with learning than fathers
This snapshot of the situation facing women and children in Trinidad and Tobago will can help policymakers across the spectrum of Government, from public health to education, cater to the needs of these demographics in national development plans and programmes.
The statistics will also support T&T's efforts to monitor progress on the National Development Strategy or 'Vision 2030', and the Sustainable Development Goals.
MICS is a global survey instrument developed by UNICEF to create a pool of multipurpose data on households.
The last MICS was conducted in Trinidad and Tobago in 2011.
The findings can be viewed on a newly-launched data portal managed by the CSO, https://datanett.info/dashboard/mics#/
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07 February 2024
Resilience Through Adversity: Peacebuilding with St. Jude's Girls
Twenty-five residents of the St. Jude's Home for Girls had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of painting with a President on January 23, when Her Excellency, President Christine Kangaloo O.R.T.T, participated in an art therapy session as part of the UN in T&T's "Choose Peace" programme.
Each participant painted a butterfly, an enduring symbol of transformation, rebirth and hope.
President Kangaloo and Minister of Gender and Child Affairs, the Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy, were invited to paint with the girls to witness the impact of this 6-month mental health and psycho-social support project.
Funding of US $50,000 came from the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention. UNDP Trinidad and Tobago oversees rollout of the project, which began in September 2023, alongside the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, Gender and Child Affairs and the St. Jude's Home for Girls.
This UN initiative uses art, sport and psycho-social workshops to cultivate self-esteem, resilience, self-discovery and positive methods of self-expression among the girls. Staff at St. Jude's are also being trained in psychological education.
La Toya Harris Tracey is the lead mental health consultant who coordinates the psychosocial components of the project. Individual psycho-social assessments help to tailor the programme curriculum to the needs of the participants.
The talented team at Chosen Hands TT leads the art and wellness segment of the project, while our partners at the Ryu Dan Empowerment Foundation expose the girls to sport, including golf and martial arts.
During her remarks, UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, said,
"Peace, like conflict, starts and ends in our hearts and in our minds. Peace starts in our language and in our everyday conscious or unconscious choice of who we are and what kind of role we want to play in this world. St. Jude's Home for Girls and the participants in this project have now become important actors in the peacebuilding process locally, nationally and globally."
UNDP Resident Representative, Ugo Blanco, expressed his gratitude to the partner NGOs that worked with the girls, saying,
"I want to thank you for pushing not only the professional aspects of this project but also the personal growth that will have a long term impact. UNDP has been pushing for peacebuilding for years, and we feel this is a project where everything aligns."
"Choose Peace" pursues progress on Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Upon completion of the programme in March, the UN team plans to develop an aftercare curriculum that can sustain the benefits of the Choose Peace experience at St. Jude's. The programme also has the potential to be rolled out to other residential care facilities.
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07 February 2024
Skills Training Offers Economic Empowerment to GBV Survivors in Tobagoย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Tangerine-coloured thread peeks out between Stacy's* quivering thumb and index finger as she tries to steady her aim. She peers down intently to pinpoint her target โ an opening a mere millimetre wide. With a delicately poised push, the thread snakes through the eye of the needle and slides out the other side.
โI think Iโm going to need glasses by the time Iโm finished with sewing,โ she laughs.
She plucks a playful pattern from among the available fabrics โ a swathe of auburn and black abstract designs on polyester. After guiding the cloth into place, Stacy applies gentle pressure to the foot pedal to kickstart the sewing machine. The motor whirs as the needle drives the stitch along the edge of the material โ the beginning of a new skirt.
Just three months ago, using a sewing machine had been an alluring but intimidating prospect for Stacy. Learning to sew had always been a dream, but one she never had the opportunity to pursue. That chance came from Women of Substance, an NGO in Lowlands, Tobago that is dedicated to supporting survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Now, Stacy plans to use her sewing skills to start a business.
โAfter I made my first piece of clothing, I decided to work even harder because I really want this. Now, I just have to get over my left-handed awkwardness,โ she chuckles. โBut I got this.โ
Stacy is one of 20 participants learning garment construction and cosmetology through courses offered by Women of Substance. Classes take place in a multipurpose room at a church in Lowlands.
The NGOโs founder, Onika Mars, makes the workshops available to unemployed women.
A few are migrants from Venezuela. Many are single mothers.
All have experienced some form of abuse from a romantic partner.
โI always thought about supporting womenโs economic empowerment,โ Onika says. โA lot of women stay in abusive relationships because they are financially dependent on their partner, so I wanted to help them get the skills that could help them become an entrepreneur. That would build their confidence and they would feel empowered.โ
Since the inception of Women of Substance in 2017, Onika has supported nearly 400 survivors through art therapy, support groups and confidence-building workshops. She also provides women with emergency shelter and donations of basic hygiene items and clothing. But this was the first time she was venturing into skills training, and she sought the support of UN Women through the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative programme.
With funding from Spotlight, Onika is able to offer the classes free-of-charge, pay a project coordinator, recruit facilitators and supply all the training material for her participants. For women without transportation, she hires a taxi to get them to and from the workshops. If the mothers have no one to supervise their children at home, Onika insists they bring the little ones to class.
โUN Women and the Spotlight Initiative understand the challenges the women face and the challenges NGOs face with funding,โ Onika says. โI believe UN Women and Spotlight honour real stories. NGOs like mine are run by people who have real stories. I am a survivor of intimate partner violence. UN Women listened to my vision to expand my help to survivors, and I was happy that someone saw the value in this idea to empower these women so they can, in turn, empower other women.โ
Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) โ Caribbean, Tonni Brodber, says economic empowerment solutions like the one offered by Women of Substance play an invaluable role in giving survivors the tools they need for financial self-reliance.
โIn the ongoing work to end GBV, the pivotal role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) like Women of Substance cannot be overstated. They cannot do it alone though, they need partnership and collaboration from all sectors. Financial support and capacity strengthening support. Through the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, UN Women MCO Caribbean distributed small grants to 19 women-led small businesses and offered over 100 capacity building workshops to CSOs across the Caribbean. As Spotlight transitions UN Women will continue to support CSOs, because they are the movers and shakers and impact makers creating crucial environments for healing and support.โ
Andrea* was already comfortable using a sewing machine when she joined the Women of Substance classes, but she wanted to upgrade her skills to master dressmaking. She also saw value in acquiring an additional skill by learning to braid hair.
She whizzed through the sewing course. Styling womenโs locs hasnโt been as easy.
โThe first time I tried it, my braids were trash,โ Andrea chuckles. โBut I am getting better. Todayโs class is kicking my tail, but I think Iโll be okay."
As a stay-at-home mom, her priority is supporting her four-year-old son. She wants to continue doing that while running a business from her home in Mt. Pleasant.
โI do dress alterations on a small scale, and people would approach me and ask me to make full dresses or skirts for them. I would always turn them down because I wasnโt confident I had the skills to do it, but now that I know my way around making a pattern for someone and customizing the design, this can make an income for me. It would change everything for me, because it means I can contribute to my household and go from a one-income household to two incomes.โ
To help the women make the next step in setting up their own business ventures, Onika has partnered with public sector agencies to host sessions with the women on the keys to successful entrepreneurship. She is also seeking out opportunities for apprenticeships so the women can be mentored by established seamstresses, designers and hairdressers.
โI think she is phenomenal,โ Andrea says of Onika, tears in her eyes. โIt gets me emotional to say that. Going from a place where I had challenges in the past to that place of knowing, โHey, you can do this,โ has been a special journey for me. This programme has really been life-changing.โ
To contact Women of Substance or support one of their initiatives, call 485-9534 or visit their website at womenofsubstance.org.tt
*Names changed to protect the identities of the participants.
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07 February 2024
IOM Builds and Refurbishes Shelters for Survivors of Trafficking
Survivors of human trafficking will have more comfortable accommodation at State-run shelters thanks to support from IOM Port of Spain.
On January 22, IOM Head of Office, Jewel Ali, led site visits to five State-run shelters that IOM is establishing or renovating and outfitting - two in Tobago and three in Trinidad.
Some of these shelters are designated for children, while others will serve adults. Some of the shelters also house survivors of abuse.
THA Secretary for Health, Wellness and Social Protection, Dr. Faith B.Yisrael, UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, the Directorate of the Counter Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Allan Meiguel and Dane-Marie Marshall, and management of the different shelters were among those who attended.
The shelter upgrades fall under two IOM projects: Heal, Empower, Rise - Counter-Trafficking in Persons (HER CTIP) project, a US $950,000 initiative with USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean, and the US $2.6m venture called the Access, Support and Coordination (ASC) Programme, which is funded by the UNโs Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF). Both projects strive to standardise the operating framework for shelter management, regardless of which State agency administers the shelter, and to improve the infrastructure, services and resources used in the protection and rehabilitation of trafficking survivors.
RC Kazana said, "We commend the Government for strengthening national capacity to respond to cases of trafficking in persons. We are encouraged to see serious Government efforts to provide longer term solutions- including suitable shelters for trafficking victims."
Editor's Note: to protect the identities and safety of the survivors of trafficking who are currently being housed at the shelters, and to prevent easy identification of the locations where shelters are currently in operation or are set to become operational in the near future, exact locations have not been shared and easily identifiable photographs of the buildings have not been published.
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21 December 2023
Top 5 Moments for the UN in T&T in 2023
With 2023 being the halfway mark for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, it was a year for delivering strong impetus to accelerate progress as we inch closer to the deadline to fulfill the 2030 Agenda.
Let's look back at 5 key moments for the UN in T&T in 2023.
5. Arrival of a New UN Resident Coordinator
On June 5, the UN Secretary-General, Antรณnio Guterres, announced the appointment of Ms. Joanna Kazana as the UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. Ms. Kazana arrived in Trinidad and Tobago and immediately began coordinating preparations for the first official visit of the UN Secretary-General to Trinidad and Tobago. She presented her credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. the Honourable Amery Browne, on June 30. This is the second Resident Coordinator posting for Ms. Kazana, the latest advancement in a two-decade long career in development work in the UN. Resident Coordinators help optimise synergies across the UN agencies working in each country, coordinating joint work priorities and administering the UN's cooperation framework to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
4. Big Data Forum 2023 Explores the Power of Big Data and A.I.
More than 400 participants turned out for the first-ever in-person incarnation of the UN in T&T's Big Data Forum in November. With the previous two editions of the Big Data Forum hosted online during the pandemic, this year's edition was ambitious in its goal to bring tech experts, innovators, business leaders and government movers and shakers into the same room to explore ways to harness Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for development. During the two-day event, 9 panel discussions and presentations showcased the limitless opportunities to apply Big Data and A.I. in advancing sustainable development, peace and security, revolutionising business models and developing a regional robotics industry. A key thread throughout the conversation was the need for regulators and legislators to keep pace with fast-changing developments in A.I. to ensure guardrails are put in place to protect users. The highlight of day two of the Forum was the Secondary Schools Battle Bots Competition, hosted in partnership with Teleios and Huawei. The tournament pitted teams from 20 secondary schools against each other to hone the students' prompt engineering skills, giving youngsters a rare opportunity to use natural language (instead of complex coding!) to compete in a tech competition.
3. SDG Roundtable
With Trinidad and Tobago holding the presidency of the UN General Assembly from 2023 to 2024, the country is in a unique position to help catalyse acceleration of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. To support the country in fine-tuning its own plan to kick momentum into high gear, the UN in T&T partnered with the Ministry of Planning and Development to hold an SDG Roundtable consultation in September to shape the country's contribution to the SDG Summit which took place during the High-Level Week at the UN General Assembly in New York. More than 100 representatives from Government, the private sector, civil society and the international development community attended to contribute their expertise to T&T's SDG Roundtable. The conversation identified peace and security, monitoring and evaluation and education among the areas for prioritisation as Trinidad and Tobago charts a plan of action to meet the 2030 deadline.
2. Spotlight Initiative Hands Baton to National Authorities to Continue Momentum on Ending Gender-Based Violence
After three years and a US $5.3 million investment, the United Nations Spotlight Initiative Trinidad and Tobago is leaving behind a solid framework for national authorities to build on improvements in systems, data collection, resources and collaboration as they work to protect and support women and girls who experience violence. The Spotlight Initiative, which received dedicated funding support from the European Union, held a two-day conference in November to mark the "transitioning" of the programme, which boasts the implementation of the region's first-ever Clinical and Policy Guidelines for Healthcare Workers to Respond to Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence, the updating and costing of a National Strategic Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), training of nearly 600 judicial officers on GBV case management, development of a joint workplace policy on GBV and sexual harassment, training of 400+ police officers on gender-responsive policing, strengthening of the national GBV Registry system, improvements to the Child Protection Information Management System used by the Children's Authority, and capacity-building grants for nearly 20 civil society organisations who serve vulnerable women and girls. Participants at the transition conference reflected on Spotlight's achievements, identified opportunities for continued investment and collaboration and recommitted to sustaining the network of cross-cutting partnerships built by Spotlight since its launch in 2020.
1. UN Secretary-General Celebrates CARICOM's 50th Anniversary with First Official Visit to Trinidad and Tobago
The UN in T&T had the privilege of hosting UN Secretary-General, Antรณnio Guterres, during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago to join CARICOM Heads of Government in celebrating the regional organisation's 50th anniversary in July. The Secretary-General's three-day visit included a tour of the Asa Wright Nature Centre to witness the benefits of biodiversity and conservation collaboration between civil society, the UN and the private sector; a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, and a keynote address during the CARICOM 50th Anniversary celebration. This was the first time Secretary-General Guterres had visited Trinidad and Tobago. He used his time here to advocate for urgent action to bring peace and security to Haiti and to reiterate his solidarity with Small Island Developing States as they seek reforms to the international financial system which would bring more equitable access to development financing. The attendance of the UN Secretary-General to CARICOM's milestone anniversary underscored the value placed by the UN - at its highest levels - on the membership of Caribbean states in the global family of nations.
2024 promises to sustain the excitement and momentum that built throughout the past year as the UN in T&T spearheaded new initiatives and strengthened existing collaborations. With the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States happening in Antigua & Barbuda in May 2024, and the Summit of the Future set to reimagine the way the UN works in September 2024, the coming year is poised to offer many opportunities for the UN in T&T to partner with Trinidad and Tobago as it participates in watershed moments in regional and global affairs.
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08 December 2023
Spotlight Initiative Transitions to New Phase, Stakeholders Pledge Continued Collaboration on GBV
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister- Gender and Child Affairs Division, Ayanna Webster-Roy, has committed to building on the UN Spotlight Initiativeโs programmes and innovations to sustain collaboration that will end violence against women and girls.
The Spotlight Initiative is the UN's effort to eliminate Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with generous funding support from the European Union. After launching the Trinidad and Tobago edition of the programme in 2020, the Spotlight Initiative is now handing over its work to national authorities.
Spotlight hosted a two-day "transition" conference from November 28 to 29 with partners from Government, public sector, the international development community, civil society and private sector. Their dialogue focused on Spotlight's achievements in policy, programmes, systems, data, strengthened capacity and bridge-building collaborations. Participants discussed ways to sustain the momentum from Spotlight after the December 31st culmination of the project.
During her opening remarks, Minister Webster-Roy thanked the United Nations, the European Union and all of the implementing partners who collaborated to deliver the US $6 million programme.
"The Spotlight Initiative has laid a solid foundation, but it is up to us as a society and as individuals to build upon it and sustain our efforts if we are to achieve the desired outcomes for women and girls," the Minister said. "I can assure you that the Division [of Gender and Child Affairs] is committed to working on the adaptation of the Initiativeโs programmes and policies aimed at behaviour change and public awareness."
Minister Webster-Roy noted that her Ministry led the Spotlight Initiative effort to develop the National Strategic Action Plan. It was approved by Cabinet this year, and will guide Government's continued efforts on GBV prevention and response.
National Spotlight Initiative Champion, Sharon Clark-Rowley, told the audience that the Spotlight Initiative's approach to breaking silos between different sectors working on GBV underscored how integral a "whole of society" approach should be.
โAll hands are now on deck, the government, our health and social services, our police, our justice system, our international partners, civil society, our local communities, and of course our men. We are all change agents.โ
Participants in the Spotlight Initiative highlighted some of the major accomplishments of the programme, including the training of over 500 judicial actors on gender protocol, completion of a landmark study on social norms, the creation of a Joint Workplace Policy on GBV and sexual harassment, the training of more than 400 police officers in Gender-Responsive Policing, and the development of the country's first official framework to guide healthcare workers on treating survivors of GBV.
These efforts were led by the five UN agencies which implemented the programme: UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and PAHO/WHO. Two additional UN agencies - UNHCR and ILO - also supported project rollout.
UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, lauded all of the partners who made the Spotlight Initiative what she dubbed "a movement of hearts and minds."
"The Spotlight Initiative would not be possible if it was not for the visionary investment by the European Union," she said. "I thank the European Union Delegation in Trinidad and Tobago for its unrelenting commitment to this programme and to the partnership with the UN system. We are extremely proud of the achievements of our implementing partners across government, the public sector, civil society and the private sector, and we are grateful for their continuing commitment and leadership against GBV."
EU Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Peter Cavendish, spoke of his admiration for the "stick-to-itiveness" of Trinidadians and Tobagonians as he recalled their commitment to overcoming the challenges entailed in implementing such an ambitious programme. He said the EU's investment "exemplifies the EUโs
commitment to the development of Trinidad and Tobago over our 47 years of partnership." He encouraged the audience to take next steps in actioning some of the policies and programmes that Spotlight put in place, including through data collection, monitoring and reporting and stronger oversight of institutions to ensure accountability and transparency when dealing with survivors and perpetrators.
commitment to the development of Trinidad and Tobago over our 47 years of partnership." He encouraged the audience to take next steps in actioning some of the policies and programmes that Spotlight put in place, including through data collection, monitoring and reporting and stronger oversight of institutions to ensure accountability and transparency when dealing with survivors and perpetrators.
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27 November 2023
A Timeless Cornerstone: 75 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In partnership with the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, the UN in T&T hosted a panel discussion on Monday, November 20th, 2023, at the Noor Hassanali Auditorium, UWI on the theme, "75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Reaching substantive equality and reframing narratives."
In her opening remarks, Dr. Alicia Elias-Roberts, Dean of the Faculty of Law, referred to the Declaration as being integral in paving the way for international treaties, since the Declaration has been translated into national and international law.
Dr. Elias-Roberts summarized the role the UWI plays in promoting equal access to higher education through its Gen S.T.A.R. (Successful Transition & Academic Readiness) initiative, which is geared towards providing mentorship and family outreach to first generation students - the first in their family to pursue tertiary education. Dr. Elias-Roberts also made reference to the high-level event organized by OHCHR in Geneva to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Declaration, which includes pledges on the protection of human rights.
In her welcome remarks, Joanna Kazana, UN Resident Coordinator, referenced the Declaration as a beacon of hope, a testament to the inherent dignity and worth of every human being.
"The Declaration is the expression of our shared values and best interests of humanity," she said. "Its 30 articles cover the right to life, liberty, security, equality, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, assembly, and association, among others. We know that the spirit of the Declaration has not always been followed and human rights have not always been upheld. For many states however, the Universal Declaration was the foundation on which they continue to construct complex solutions to many of the old and contemporary ills of societies."
Denise Pitcher, Executive Director of the Caribbean Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) provided the perspective of civil society on the relevance of the Declaration. Ms. Pitcher highlighted the erosion of the human rights space and the weakening of the infrastructure given events in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Ms. Pitcher made reference to the worrying trend of right wing extremism where voters have found migration to be unacceptable. The power of large corporations and misinformation on social media can contribute to this erosion of human rights, she added. Ms. Pitcher concluded that despite these occurrences, there is still room for human rights. She asserted that the Declaration is still relevant to making international human rights law and civil society can still play a role by engaging with the Human Rights Mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights.
Mr. Eden Charles, Former Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN and Lecturer at the UWI St. Augustine Faculty of Law, said the Declaration was borne out of the conscience of humanity following the atrocities of the Second World War. Mr. Charles made the distinction between formal equality, the circumstance in which laws apply equally but this does not generate equal outcomes, and substantive equality, which takes into account the rights of disadvantaged individuals. Mr. Charles lamented the veto power of the UN Security Council but hailed the decision of the International Court of Justice that human rights must also apply in war time. Mr. Charles hailed the importance of human rights in the field of climate action as particularly relevant to our changing times.
The Honourable Madam Justice Nalini Singh, hailed the Declaration as a guide of moral conduct for all time. Justice Singh referenced instances in international cases where the Declaration was interpreted as bestowing a right where the national laws were not sufficient and hailed the role of judicial activism in giving effect to the Declaration. Justice Singh also made reference to the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice in the Maya Leaders Alliance v Belize case on indigenous rights. The CCJ held that while the Declaration is not binding, it is in fact relevant to the interpretation of the Constitution of Belize which in its preamble explicitly recognises that state policies must protect the culture and identity of its indigenous peoples but also must promote respect for international law and treaty obligations. The Court also found that international law recognises and protects the rights of indigenous peoples as this is implicit in the Declaration which records and protects the inherent dignity of all human beings.
Students in the audience asked questions about the relevance of treaties in a dualist state like Trinidad and Tobago that requires domestic incorporation to give effect to the obligations nationally. Another hot topic was the relevance of the Declaration and the UN given the current events in Gaza. Lively discussions also unfolded on the pathway to substantive equality for vulnerable groups including asylum seekers, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons.
His Excellency Former President Anthony Carmona attended the panel discussion and made enlightening contributions about the situation of persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago and the work that needs to be done to grant substantive equality. President Carmona recalled that when he desired to appoint Mr. Ian Roach, now Chairman of the Equal Opportunity Commission, as a Senator in Parliament that he was informed that the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago could not accommodate wheelchair access and he was asked to reconsider the decision. He maintained his nomination and indicated that arrangements must be made.
Mr. Roach, who attended the discussion, noted the accommodations for persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago are not sufficient as he is obliged to call before going anywhere to find out whether he can be accommodated. Mr. Roach also responded to the discussion about the issue of UN geopolitics and indicated that the impression is that certain countries are immune while countries in Africa seem to be brought up before the International Courts.
Ms. Kazana acknowledged that the UN is under pressure to deliver, given the events in Gaza. She also underscored that despite the difficulties, the UN is still relevant as the agencies on the ground have had an impact on the lives of people around the world. She cited as examples the UN's humanitarian support to 230 million people worldwide, the work of agencies like UNEP in negotiating climate agreements, UNICEF's efforts to improve the welfare of children and UN Women's mission to reduce inequalities.
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27 November 2023
UN Big Data Forum Advocates for Digital Guardrails to Safeguard A.I. Users
Governments have a fundamental responsibility to regulate the use of A.I. to protect the public interest, according to UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana.
She made the statement during the opening of the UN in T&T's Big Data Forum 2023 on Tuesday, November 21.
The two-day Forum was the marquis event under the Joint SDG Fund project to modernise data and statistics in Trinidad and Tobago.
This project, which began in 2022, is being undertaken by PAHO/WHO, ILO, ECLAC and UNEP, with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office chairing the project steering committee.
2023 marked the first time the UN's Big Data Forum - now in its third year - had been held in person.
Outlining the tremendous transformational benefits to be gained from problem-solving applications of A.I., Ms. Kazana underscored the many positive uses of harnessing this cutting edge technology. But she cautioned about the "massive governance gap" that has rapidly grown between the pace of private-sector development of A.I. technology and the ability of governments to protect users.
"New technologies are lacking even basic guardrails," Ms. Kazana said. "It is harder to bring a soft toy than an A.I. chatbot to market today. Because such digital technologies are privately developed, governments are constantly lagging behind in regulating them in the public interest. As a result of decades of underinvestment in State capacities, public institutions in most countries are ill equipped to assess and respond to digital challenges. Very few can compete with private to harness talent and offer incentives to digitally skilled people to work in the public sector."
She noted that one imperative of robust digital governance is minimising the inequity that can arise between the 'haves' and 'have-nots' with digital access and user skills.
The Big Data Forum 2023 featured 9 sessions of keynote addresses and panel discussions, an expo of suppliers and services in the realm of Big Data and A.I., and a youth tournament on prompt engineering - dubbed the Collegiate Battle Bots competition. The Forum created a space for local and regional experts to build on the global discourse happening in the Big Data and A.I. space, developing their unique Caribbean narrative on these emerging technologies.
The Forum links to Outcome 3 in the UN's Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, which stipulates that by 2026, national governments and regional institutions will use relevant data and information to design & adopt laws and policies to eliminate discrimination, address structural inequalities & ensure the advancement of those at risk of being left furthest behind.
"This is a very ambitious task and we are working hard to support the national partners to achieve this outcome," Ms. Kazana said during her remarks.
Also speaking during the opening of the Forum, Minister of Planning and Development, Pennelope Beckles, said data protection is essential for economic development.
"Effective data protection laws and regulations advance citizensโ trust in digital tools and electronic systems through the integration of rights and protections against the misuse of their personal data," Minister Beckles said. "When considering this, we must require organisations to use data in fair, transparent, and accountable ways. This is fundamental for governmentโs drive towards effective data rights and protection for our citizens."
She added that Government is working to craft well-designed data laws and regulations that are adapted to the national context and are accompanied by effective mechanisms for enforcement.
The Forum attracted participation from nearly 300 participants, who range from Government and the public service to data analysts, private sector managers, tech company proprietors and students.
One of the highly successful additions to this year's Forum was the Collegiate Battle Bots competition, a partnership between the UN in T&T, Teleios and Huawei.
Sixty students from 20 schools across Trinidad and Tobago participated in the competition, which allowed them to use natural language to programme A.I.-powered bots to compete in a digital battle arena.
Presentation College, Chaguanas emerged victorious, followed by Marabella North Secondary School in second place and St. Stephens College in third place.
Sessions during the Forum included conversations on A.I. in Citizen Safety and Security, with the keynote address delivered by Professor Renee Cummings, a 2023 VentureBeat AI Innovator Award winner. Professor Cummings is an A.I. data and tech ethicist, and the first Data Activist-in-Residence at the University of Virginiaโs (UVA), School of Data Science. She cautioned about the dangers of inherent bias being built into A.I. algorithms and the consequences these biases could have on crime fighting, particularly in the identification of suspects.
For more information on this year's Big Data Forum, check out bigdataforumtt.com.
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