CAFRA’s Response to Globalization

CAFRA is a significant part of the Caribbean Women’s movement. It has a presence in 16 countries of the region and has its membership comprises women who are unemployed (both those with university degrees as well as the less educated), women in the informal sector, women who work as domestics, women who do not own or know how to use a computer, women of Indigenous origins – the first peoples of the region who have almost totally been decimated, women of Rastafari – a group of Caribbean persons who 70 years ago began to construct an alternative way of living, women academics, women activists, regardless of race, class, age, disability or sexual orientation.

CAFRA’s response to globalization has been determined in very clear terms: we have been goods in the trade market. Our very bodies have been commodities for sale – therefore we have no reason to trust the market. All of our responses to market ideology originate from this historical experience. We are very aware that we must resist market forces so that we shall never be market goods again.

CAFRA has therefore taken its own initiatives as well has joined its efforts with other organisations – both women’s organisations and organisations consisting of both men and women. For example CAFRA is a member of the Caribbean Reference Group on External Trade Relations (CRG), and CAFRA works with such organisations as Women in Development Europe and International Gender and Trade Network to resist globalization.

Apart from CAFRA a number of national organisations and regional arms of international organisations also work across the English speaking Caribbean on the theme of globalisation. Some of them are the Caribbean Gender and Trade Network which is administered by CAFRA, DAWN Caribbean, and UNIFEM.

CAFRA primary achievement in respect of globalization has been resistance. It has led the way of resistance in the Caribbean, and been a part of the global resistance as well. This effort, along with that of a range of other actors has helped to slow down the pace of globalization world wide. In the English speaking Caribbean, it has led to our policy makers beginning to listen to what we have to say. Our proposals are just beginning to make sense. In a limited way our language is beginning to penetrate the official documents on trade.

CAFRA has employed five main methods of working:

• 1. Research and Publications
• 2. Consultations of membership and communities of interests
• 3. Public education as well as economic literacy specially for members
• 4. Advocacy of an integrated rights agenda
• 5. Tools Design

CAFRA has always returned the findings of its research to the communities where the information was obtained. On return from participation at international meetings, it has been the practice to seek opportunity working through national level organisations to convene consultations on the outcomes of these meetings.

Also, due to its prominence in the region, other women’s organisations initiating research have done so in consultation with CAFRA, and consultation on the findings have usually sought to ensure the participation of a representative number of CAFRA members.

Wider audiences of men and women outside CAFRA’s membership have also benefited from economic education in instances where, as a member of the CRG, CAFRA has been a prime organizer of consultations on a range of issues on globalization and trade liberalization at national, sub-regional, and regional levels for men and women.

CAFRA’s primary advocacy message has been that the people centered conventions agreed to at the level of the United Nations during the decade of the 1990s must remain centered in trade negotiations and not set aside as something apart from trade. Trade must function in the interest of, not against, human development.

CAFRA has also been monitoring the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and has identified the areas of potential benefit to women. CAFRA intends to intervene in the implementation of this regional agreement on behalf of women.

CAFRA has been recognized as the voice of the Caribbean Women’s Movement and now serves as the Civil Society Representative on the Caribbean Court of Justice which is the highest and final Appeals Court within the CSME.

Trafficking in women, violence against women, women’s health, sexual and reproductive rights, women’s participation in political leadership, and other issues on which CAFRA intervenes are not disconnected from trade. It is this very mass awareness and activism by both men and women which will overturn the boat of globalization so that trade may be made fair. So that our young people can grow up in an environment of people-centered development.

We have been able to resist and to inspire others to resist. Our aim is to transform. Resistance is only the beginning. Our hearts remain strong and our spirit resolute. We are also trying to build an alternative through the development of gender indicators on trade.

We do not seek to reform globalization based on market liberalization but to eradicate it. We propose to build a world of social and economic equity, gender justice and sustainable development.

Keturah Cecelia Babb
Deputy Coordinator
Caribbean Policy Development Centre