Caricom concerned about impact of crime, violence for region’s social development

Advisor for Social Development at the Caricom Secretariat, Ms Beverly Harry-Emmanuel, says Caricom Heads of Government continue to be actively concerned about the implications of crime and violence for the Region’s social development.
Delivering remarks at the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security’s (Caricom IMPACS) Observance of International Women’s Day (IWD), she stated:
“To date, two symposiums on Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue have been convened, keeping at the forefront of the deliberations the importance of balancing the rights of the individual and the public safety interests of the whole of society.
A significant outcome of these symposia was the agreement to “strengthen the development of security as a fourth pillar of the Community, so that collectively we can better address the extra-territorial threats to citizen security; including strengthening the capacity of the Community’s Security and Justice agencies to adopt and implement a public health approach.” This declaration is a clear signal of how Caricom views its role in protecting human rights, democracy, peace and security in our Region.”

She also highlighted that the Caricom Secretariat continues to work with Member States to adopt the Regional Common Standards for Police and Justice Agencies to mitigate Violence against Women and Girls and Family Violence.
She explained that the adoption of the Standards will strengthen systems to hold perpetrators accountable for violence, while ensuring victim safety and strengthening societal messaging that gender-based and family violence are unacceptable in any measure or circumstance.
She noted too that according to ‘UN Women’, in 2024, 44 per cent of countries showed improvements in the quality of education, training, and lifelong learning among women and girls. Girls surpass boys in upper-secondary completion rates in most regions, including ours. A question for exploration is whether there is correlation among the higher levels of educational achievements of women and girls, social cohesion, and increasing incidences of crime and violence which disproportionally threaten the right to life, liberty and security of women and girls.
Additionally, forms of violence such as the trafficking of persons, sexual exploitation, and the use of electronic media, particularly online platforms, have far-reaching social, economic and developmental consequences for individuals and society, she said.
During the Community’s three-day 48th Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Leaders in Barbados in February this year, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Rowley, had stated that appropriate legislation is needed to tackle the violent crime surge.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Jamaica Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, had said that gang violence should be regarded as acts of terrorism and a threat to democracy in the Region.