Introduction

The year 2002 has been a milestone for the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action CAFRA. It has been a year in which the organisation consolidated its programmes and acquired a permanent Secretariat, as part of its strategy for sustainability.

An analysis of the situation within the Caribbean Region shows that poverty is still widespread, particularly among rural women. The growing drug trade “attracts” women as well as men, as an alternative means of employment. The risks associated with the drug trade, are rising crime, and an increasing number of persons in prisons at home and abroad.

Access to adequate health service has always been an issue for women, but an issue that has forced governments’ attention is the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and the fact that women in the 15-24 age group are most affected. In spite of this, there are still questions and taboos around including sex education on the school curriculum, while not ensuring that parents are equipped and willing to impart the knowledge to their children. The unsafe sex practices, exposure to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy and more and more young people who are homeless.

The system does not provide basic services for all, and access to education, water, electricity and job opportunities is still a major life-threatening issue for many women and their families.

The Beijing Platform for Action outlines health as a critical area of concern for women. At its Fifth General Meeting held in Suriname in May 2002, the issue of Women’s Health and Reproductive Rights was the subject of much discussion and was short listed for project development.

Countries of the Caribbean are under going reform of the state sectors. The introduction of policies of cost sharing and cost recovery in health and education in Jamaica have impacted negatively on low income women. These women carry an unequal share of the cost of social services in the face of governments’ inability to provide these services.

Communicable diseases are on the rise in some countries of the Caribbean. In Belize, outbreaks of cholera and malaria are linked to the low standards of living and the lack of sanitation in areas where migrant populations live.

Although some new employment opportunities have been created for women as a result of the globalisation of the economy, there are also trends that have exacerbated inequalities between women and men.

CAFRA has been challenged to provide services for women and their families in the proverbial context of “while the grass is growing, the horse is starving”.