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Young women in leadership: A driving force for gender equality in the Caribbean

March 25, 2025 | Activity

Recognizing that the empowerment of young women in leadership is crucial for driving forward the agenda for gender equality, this Beijing +30 Webinar served as a platform to re-engage participants of the Young Women in Leadership (YWiL) and YES! Leadership Programmes in meaningful dialogue on gender equality to deepen their understanding of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As the 30th anniversary of this landmark framework for women’s rights and gender equality approaches, there is a growing impetus to equip young women with the necessary skills and opportunities for impactful leadership and decision-making. This webinar served as the launch event to the series of leadership training sessions that ParlAmericas, the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, and Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) will be providing to continue strengthening the network of Caribbean young women in leadership.

To frame the conversation within key global priorities for gender equality, Monique Long, Planning & Coordination Specialist at UN Women Caribbean, presented on the 12 critical areas of concern outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This introduction provided an essential framework for participants to identify additional gender-related challenges specific to the Caribbean region, fostering a discussion on how to address these pressing issues through leadership and advocacy.

Highlighting the contributions of young women leaders across sectors in advancing gender equality, Her Excellency Natalie Campbell-Rodriques, High Commissioner of Jamaica in Trinidad and Tobago and former Vice-President of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the diverse ways women and girls experience societal challenges. She stressed that integrating gender perspectives into the design, implementation, and evaluation of legislation, policies, and projects enhances the ability of leaders to respond effectively to the varied needs of communities. Building on this insight, she moderated a dynamic panel discussion that explored actionable strategies for fostering inclusive and gender-responsive leadership. Panelists—including Indira Toussaint, YWiL Saint Lucia alumna; Dannyelle-Jordan Bailey, YWiL Jamaica alumna; Chrystal Williams, YWiL Grenada alumna; Janecia St. Hill, YWiL Antigua and Barbuda alumna; and Terri Ann Baker, YWiL Trinidad and Tobago and YES! Leadership alumna—shared insights on mentorship, addressing personal biases, and advancing initiatives in education, health, women’s leadership, environmental sustainability, and access to justice. The discussion underscored the importance of adopting culturally relevant approaches to advocacy, awareness-raising, and program development—ensuring that women and diverse groups play a central role in shaping solutions at every stage.

ParlAmericas values its ongoing collaboration with UN Women Caribbean and CIWiL in this initiative and looks forward to continued joint efforts to equip current and future young women leaders with the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to drive sustained advocacy and action toward gender equality.

The meeting was made possible with the support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.