1. Latin America and the Caribbean: Building Bridges for the implementation of the Convention of Belem do Para
Francine Foster
Principal CEVI Expert, Grenada
12th Meeting of the Meeting of Experts
Lima Peru
October15, 2015

2. LATIN AMERICA
It consists of nineteen sovereign states or territories in the Americas which cover an area that stretches from the southern border of the United States to the southern tip of South America.
Latin America has an area of approximately 19,197,000 km2 (7,412,000 sq mi), almost 13% of the earth's land surface area.
In 2013 its population was estimated at more than 604 million
Territories where the Spanish and Portuguese languages prevail

3. CENTRAL AMERICA

4. Consist of only seven (7) Countries
Combined population in was 42,688,190 with a population of 6.17 million in 2015 with a combined land area of 522,000 sq. km.
Largest country being Nicaragua with a land area of 130, 370 sq. mi.
Smallest country is El Salvador with a land area of 8,124 Sq. mi with a population in 2015 of 6.29 million
Most populated country is Guatamala 14,647,083 people with the least populated being Belize with 340, 844

5. SOUTH AMERICA

6. Consist of twelve (12) independent countries
Combined population of approximately 371,090,000 land area amounting to 17,840,000 Sq. km. (6,890,000 sq. mi.)
Largest country is Brazil with a land area of 8,514,877 sq. mi. which also has the largest population of 204,519,000 people (2015 demographic projections)
Smallest country is French Guiana with a land area of under 64,000 Sq. mi incidentally with the smallest population in 2015 demographic projection of 262,000 people

7. THE CARIBBEAN

8. Its’ islands, some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea covers a total area of 2,754,000 km2(1,063,000 sq mi).
The actual total land mass is 239,681 km2 (92,541 sq mi) with an estimated population in 2009 to be million
The largest English speaking island in the Caribbean is Jamaica with an estimated land area of 11, 188 km (4320 sq. mi.) population in 2015 of 2,741,000 people
Most of the islands have an average population of 100,000 people
The smallest English speaking island in the Caribbean is St. Kitts (104 Sq. mi)and Nevis with an estimated population of 46,204 people
The main language spoken in the Caribbean is English with territories such as Haiti speaking French, Suriname speaking Dutch, Cuba speaking Spanish

9. DIFFERENCES LATIN AMERICA CARIBBEAN
Very Large Land Masses – some landlocked
Large Populations
Speak mainly Spanish and Portuguese
Complexity of issues pertaining to women – dialect – access –
Larger sphere of issues concerning women
More available resources
Very small islands
Small populations
Speak mainly English and few know a second language
Most islands don’t have indigenous peoples – women’s issues are generally generic
Limited in terms of types of abuse
Limited available resources

10. SIMILARITIES Similar problem with the abuse of women
Lack of effective Women’s empowerment
Lack of Political Will of our Governments/State Parties
Limited Budgets concentrated towards women issues
Women continue to be vulnerable part of our populations
Access to Justice concerns
Passionate about eliminating and eradicating violence against women

11. Belem do Para Convention
A convention to eradicate eliminate and punish violence against women
Implemented through the monitoring and evaluation of State Parties who have ratified the Convention
Challenges to the implementation of the Convention

12. COMMON CHALLENGES
Lack of commitment of the state Parties – Governments
Lack of prioritizing the issues of women on our Governments agenda
Lack of finances to support the work of the CEVI and by extension MESCEVI
Inadequate or the poor collection of data
Lack of continuity of Experts
Non attendance and participation of Experts
Failure to comply with review round or late compliance after the close of the round
Lack of knowledge and application of the Convention
Lack of effective reporting results in the inability to effective monitor changes and developments

13. Building Bridges – Overcoming the Challenges

14. Overcoming the Language Barrier – access to evaluation rounds
Sharing of best practices – resources – data – case studies – specialized skilled areas
Developing a unified voice in the support of the issues of concerning women in a more visible way under Belem do Para
Maximize the use of technology – to enhance communication
Seeking the assistance of the OAS offices to lobby with our Governments where offices exist
Greater advocacy - joint productions in both languages – of the Belem Do Para – CIM – MESCEVI. – Translated Country assessments and video productions with sub titles
Creation of joint user friendly information so that all sectors of society can understand and lobby their governments to effect change