About CAFRA

CAFRA IN HISTORY:
As the women’s movement in the Caribbean developed, it recognized the need for regional co-operation and networking. The work that was being done by women’s groups in different geographical areas of the Caribbean bore enough similarities and faced enough common problems to justify co-operation. CAFRA emerged from this scenario as an autonomous umbrella organisation. It was founded officially on April 2, 1985 at an all-day meeting of 40 feminists and women activists in Barbados. Membership
is open to women and women’s organizations who support CAFRA’s mission and overall projects, and who are:

 Women living in the Caribbean;
 Women’s organizations in the Caribbean;
 Caribbean women living abroad;
 Women with ‘Caribbean roots’ living abroad.

STRUCTURE:
A 22-member regional committee governs CAFRA. The current chair is Margaret Macaulay, an attorney from Jamaica. Jeanne Henriquez of Curacao is the deputy chair. The CAFRA Secretariat is based in Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago. Its co-ordinator is Nelcia Robinson from St Vincent and the Grenadines, one of the organisation’s foundation members. There is a general meeting once every three years; the Regional Committees and Continuation Committees meet annually. CAFRA works through national representatives in the Dutch, English, French and Spanish speaking Caribbean.

LEGAL STATUS:
CAFRA is registered under the Companies Ordinance of Trinidad and Tobago as a company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on July 16, 1990. NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
At present there are 16 CAFRA national representatives: