Minister of the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender Affairs, Honourable Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, is leading Saint Lucia’s review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), ahead of its thirtieth anniversary next year, 2025. The island’s lead, Hon. Dr. Poyotte, participated, as a member of Saint Lucia’s delegation, in the historic Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing China in 1995. It was at that forum that the Platform for Action was endorsed. It continues to be the leading international framework for mainstreaming gender in national sustainable development.

A global review of the implementation of the BPfA will be undertaken within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). National and regional processes precede this global review. Throughout the month of May, the Division of Gender Affairs will be reviewing the progress made and challenges encountered in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. This involves an all-of-society approach, collaborating with various stakeholders, including all branches and levels of Government, civil society organizations, the private sector, the entities of the United Nations System, regional and international organizations, academia and the media. During the week of Monday May 13, 2024 to Thursday May 16, 2024 at the Division of Gender Affairs will be hosting focus group discussions with various stakeholders at its office located at the Corner of High and Chisel Streets, Castries.

On Friday, May 17, 2024, the Division of Gender Affairs will convene a National Consultation to agree on Saint Lucia’s priorities, achievements, challenges and setbacks in the implementation of the Platform for Action. Ahead of that consultation, the focus groups will review the progress and challenges made in the last five years in the twelve critical areas of concern of the BPfA. In addition to focus group discussions, the Division of Gender Affairs will host stakeholder engagement sessions in the form of town hall meetings in four communities in Saint Lucia during the week of May 21 to 24, 2024.

More information on the Beijing Platform for Action and the review process will be made available on the Division’s website, genderlms.govt.lc and all its social media platforms including on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. The public is invited to contribute to the discussion and highlight the gender equality gains for Saint Lucia in the last five years of implementation of the BPfA.

Saint Lucia’s National Review Report will be validated on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 and submitted to the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean on June 1, 2024. A grand celebration of the thirtieth anniversary milestone of the implementation of the BPfA is planned for Saint Lucia for International Women’s Day 2025.