Gender Affairs Department Women

Women’s Political Participation

Societally, women in St. Kitts & Nevis have made significant progress. However, one challenge that persists is the advancement of women in political decision making. While women have always been involved in the Federation’s political organizations, due to the patriarchal nature of society, women have largely played supporting roles within these groups.

The Department of Gender Affairs, works tirelessly to ensure that gender equity, and gender equality are realized in St. Kitts and Nevis. In 2002, the Department, in collaboration with the National Council of Women and with the support of The Organization of American States, The Australia Direct Aid Programme, and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), conducted training activities in Democracy and Governance for women. St. Kitts and Nevis then joined Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda in a multi-country Organization of American States (OAS) training in Democracy and Governance. This project aimed to raise awareness regarding the need for gender equality in political decision making

Despite the large number of women who were trained in Governance and Democracy, only two women who graduated from the Democratic Institute programme ran as candidates for general election. To date, St. Kitts and Nevis has elected three women to political office.

The Empowerment of women in St. Kitts and Nevis

Since its inception, the Department of Gender Affairs has worked to alleviate poverty amongst women through improving income generation and the creation of decent livelihoods. To address the issue of economic empowerment of women, the Department has collaborated with the People’s Employment Programme (PEP) and Youth Skills while the Government has also implemented Social Safety Net Programmes, income generating skills training, and the establishment of a National Entrepreneurship Development Division. Furthermore, the Department of Gender Affairs has worked to ensure the following state advancements which facilitate gender equity and equality:

• Equal access to credit and Legal aid services
• State support of teen mother’s education and development

The Department also seeks to support women at their workplaces. For example, ninety-eight percent (98%) of the employees on the Industrial Estate are women. The workers represent a wide cross section of the society, originating from various parishes and socio-economic backgrounds. A Government run daycare meeting the needs of the managers and employees of the estate is located close by. The Ministry also had a strategic office and training centre in the environs of the Industrial Estate as well. From this centre, the Department conducted skills training projects for employees to enhance their earning potential and also provided Family planning, Counseling and other types of support.

Regarding women’s health, primary health care services are delivered to women without cost. These services include cervical cancer screening, family planning services, and OBGYN care for at risk, low income pregnant women. Secondary health care services are low cost, and work place health screening programmes are being implemented, thus making important health information available to women.

The Department of Gender Affairs collaborates with the Ministry of Health in its efforts to address gender related health issues. The Department has a focal point for HIV/AIDS and all of the Department’s programmes have an HIV/AIDS component. The promotion of Gender-Specific Health awareness on issues such as Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancers, are also areas in which the Department works with the Ministry of Health.