Antigua and Barbuda has submitted its 2025 Belem do Para Report, marking a key step in efforts to combat violence against women.
The report, compiled by the Directorate of Gender Affairs (DoGA), details the country’s progress in meeting obligations under the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against Women, known as the Belem do Para Convention. Adopted in 1994, the treaty recognises violence against women as a human rights violation and calls on states to implement protective measures.
Covering the period from 2018 to 2024, the document reviews developments in five areas: legislation, national plans, access to justice, data collection, and diversity and inclusion.
Its preparation involved months of collaboration between DoGA and stakeholders including the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Legal Aid, Family and Social Services, the Civil Registry, and the NGO Women Against Rape.
Ashlea Ambris, DoGA Project Officer and coordinator of the report, said it reflected both policy gains and the strength of national partnerships.
“This submission speaks not only to our country’s commitment to international human rights standards, but also to the strength of our national partnerships,” she said.
Programme Officer Melanie Williams-Kirnon described tackling violence against women as a “moral imperative” for a fair society.
DoGA said the report would guide future policy, identify progress and gaps, and reaffirm Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to gender equity and international accountability. It thanked all agencies involved and pledged to continue its advocacy and monitoring role.
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What does these reports do really? Do they provide a safe house for women who were abused? Because many woman who are being abused emotionally and physically have no place to go when they leave these abusive homes. These reports only inform the world of how many abuse have been reported. They don’t get down to the issue itself. We have no safe spaces dor abused women and girls. Our laws are too lenient towards abusive partners. Policemen turn a blind eye when these matters are reported. Then there is the issue of the victims who have no values and go right back into the arms of their abuser. Its a complex matter that needs more than just reports but on the ground work
I can’t help but to stand with you. And I even wish you could have typed it louder
Im pleased with the work that the DOGE is putting in to raise awareness and to address this concerning issue of gender-based violence. We may never get it 100% right but at least we can keep trying
We as men have to take care of our women. Abusing these gems is never right. A woman should be valued and women, if your man don’t value you. LEAVE
Submitting a report is one thing, but what does it mean for the woman in Gray’s Farm or the young girl in Parham? We need to see more than just promises. We need more resources for our local NGOs, like the Women Against Rape movement. We need a proper, dedicated safe house for survivors. And most importantly, we need to see our police and judicial systems taking these cases seriously and not allowing them to fall through the cracks.
A chance to challenge our cultural norms.
KUDOS To OUR Department of Gender Affairs for THE EFFORTS Your Workers have Put into CREATING This 6 Year (2018 – 2024) SNAPSHOT of the Situation in 🇦🇬 regarding: Violence Against Our Women & Girls!!!
When And Where can we (The Public) obtain A COPY of THIS Report?
As an Educator and Counselor, I am EXCITED and Anxious to BEGIN Using the Contents of THIS REPORT As An EDUCATIONAL & DISCUSSION Tool with Groups of Men And Women in Our Nation of 🇦🇬!!!!!
We ALL Need To Use EVERY OPPORTUNITY to Engage Everyone in Our Spaces on THIS TOPIC…… And having information provided in THIS REPORT which Covers Very Important Areas, provides for US A POWERFUL Educational Tool.
Thank you Once Again DoGA for THIS Report Which REFLECTS Your PARTNERSHIP with: Family Social Services, the Civil Registry, the Royal Police Force (?Service) of 🇦🇬, the Ministry of Legal Affairs & Legal Aide, to name A Few.
The FACT that THIS REPORT includes the KEY AREAS Of: Legislation, National Plans, Access to Justice, Data and Statistics, Diversity and Inclusion of Stakeholders, etc; And Further REFLECTS Our Nation’s PROGRESS in the Areas of : Prevention, Punishment, Eradication of Violence against Women & Girls, as Adopted in the “1994 Belem do Para Convention” (Which requires States to establish CONCRETE Protections), certainly MAKES This Report A VERY IMPORTANT Educational Tool to be used by A WIDE Cross Section Of Groups in 🇦🇬!!!
Working TOGETHER, and In Consultation with DoGA, in our National Educational and Discussion Efforts, will CERTAINLY help Us ALL to Progress Very Quickly in: Eliminating The Gaps existing in Our National Efforts, and making Future Policy Decisions towards Gender Equity, And The Advancement of Women’s Rights as more than just a Policy Proposal, but as A Moral Priority that becomes an Imperative for A Just and Equitable Society……
Once Again KUDOS TO DoGA on This EXCELLENT Report Which can be used as an INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL Tool to Help Our National Discussions in our Efforts to ADDRESS And get rid of The Scourge of Violence Against Our Women and Girls ….
…….. Looking Forward to hearing WHEN and WHERE the Public can Obtain copies of THIS EXCELLENT Report which can SERVE as A Means for Education, Discussion and Future Policy Decisions and possibly Law Reform in our Nation 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda!
It’s nice to see that some policy and legislative changes are being made. In a country like Antigua where we continue to vote in men who have histories of beating women and dating underaged school girls, how do we really progress? People are generally inclined to follow their leaders so the bottom line is that we need people to lead by example who have strong moral values. Unfortunately Antigua and many Caribbean islands are cesspits of misogyny- women have not been safe for a long time and we are not safe now, regardless of our social status or levels of educational achievement. We really need to demand better for ourselves because no one, especially no man is going to save us.
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