During March 2022 the CDEMA Regional Training Centre in collaboration with The University of the West Indies (UWI) Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, and with support from the United Nations Development Programme through the Spotlight Initiative, hosted a short online training on integrating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Family Violence (FV) considerations into disaster risk management. The training particularly introduced participants to "The Guideline on Integrating Violence Against Women and Girls and Family Violence into Disaster Risk Management in the Caribbean", which was also developed with support from the Spotlight Initiative through a collaboration of the UNDP, CDEMA and partners.

The facilitators included Ms. Karen Small, Gender Specialist at CDEMA; Dr. Ayodele ; Dr. Barbara Roussel, ; and Dr. Evangeline Inniss-Springer, Director of the UWI Disaster Risk Reduction Centre.

The training topics and sessions were:

DAY 1 (29th March 2022):

• Intersections between Inequality, VAWG/Family Violence and Disaster Risk Management
• GBV State of Play in the Caribbean
• Business Case for Mainstreaming VAWG & FV into DRR
• Plenary - Working Group Presentations on the Business Case for Mainstreaming VAWG & FV into DRR

DAY 2 (30th March 2022):

• Overview of Guidelines for Mainstreaming VAWG and FV into the DRM Cycle
• Integration of VAWG and FV Considerations in the DM Cycle  
• Plenary - Working Group Presentations on Practical Exercises on Applying the Guidelines
  
• Next Steps for the Integration of Guidelines into Disaster Management Programming at the National Level  

 Click on the link below to view the training held on 29th-30th March 2022, and the Guidelines:

Access the Training and Guidelines

The Guidelines seek to: 

• Support a holistic approach to the implementation of the Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy (CDM) where no one is left behind.
• Provide an understanding of the intersections between DRM and GBV such as VAWG and FV and the state of play of GBV in the Caribbean
• Promote awareness of definitions, tools, databases, key publications and reports available on GBV in the Caribbean
• Provide specific guidance on what to consider when incorporating GBV into DRM projects or programmes along with GBV related indicators for monitoring progress
• Provide specific guidance on what to consider when incorporating GBV into the phases of the DRM cycle – preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.