As a follow-up to the combined fifth to eighth periodic CEDAW reviews of Barbados, the United Nations Subregional team in collaboration with the ‘Institute of Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit (IGDS- NBU)’, ‘Equals’ and ‘Life in Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender Based Violence’ convened a Follow-up to CEDAW Workshop with over 35 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The workshop aimed at helping CSOs identify a joint path and action items to the implementation of the CEDAW Recommendations through providing a forum for engagement of and between CSOs, relevant government entities, academia and the UN. Participants formed five groups to discuss potential next steps under key thematic areas.

These next steps—devised collaboratively—could serve as a useful starting point for Civil Society Organisations as they support the implementation of the CEDAW recommendation through advocacy, activism or service. One of the major benefits of this workshop was the facilitation of partnerships between CSOs and national human rights coordinating agencies.

The resulting report provides a detailed outline from CSOs on the recommended next steps.

“ The conservation about the rights of women and girls must continue as we fight to reduce gender equalities”
- Marisa Hutchinson, EQUALS, Facilitator of CEDAW Follow-up Workshop