Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework

Enabling Environment

An ‘enabling environment’ establishes and sustains equal opportunities for health and well-being regardless of race, class, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or country of citizenship. It refers to the responsibilities of governments with respect to the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the constitutions of all Caribbean States. Specific to HIV, these rights underpin the MDGs, UNAIDS Getting to Zero, the PANCAP 10th Annual General Meeting and the 2011 United Nations High Level Meeting Declaration. PANCAP’s Justice for All programme establishes human rights as a priority of the regional response through a Pan Caribbean Declaration and Roadmap aimed at reducing stigma, eliminating discrimination and strengthening rights-based legislative frameworks by reforming laws that are incompatible with these international commitments.

The rights of all residents are also accompanied by the responsibility to lead, participate in and support processes to change harmful social norms that sanction gender inequality and stereotypes, interpersonal and gender-based violence, child abuse, discrimination and stigma associated with HIV and against homosexuals and other marginalised groups, including the differently abled. This will require widespread education, advocacy and a more open approach to human sexuality, as well as pragmatic responses to overcoming everyday manifestations of stigma, discrimination and social exclusion. Evidence-informed strategies to address gender-related risks and vulnerabilities to HIV and AIDS will be incorporated in each of the CRSF Strategic Priority Areas and will be a particular area of focus in working towards an enabling environment. Barriers to prevention and treatment programmes will be targeted at multiple levels to mitigate individual risk behaviours and to promote community engagement, including in advocacy, provision and monitoring of high quality services and in governance and oversight of the regional response.

Strategic objective 1.1: Increase access to justice for all in the Caribbean.

Expected results:

1. Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of governments and residents of the region in enforcing rights-based laws and policies is increased.
2. Sector-specific policies and programmes are implemented to eliminate discriminatory practices.
3. Rights-based policies and laws are enacted with the appropriate regulations and training to enable enforcement.
4. Litigation is used strategically to establish precedents which advance social justice and constitutional rights.

Strategic Objective 1.2: Promote the development and acceptance of positive social norms and behaviours that support healthy and equitable societies.

Expected results:

1. Understanding of human sexuality, sexual health and responsible sexual behaviour is increased.
2. Positive norms and behaviours that support gender equality and reduce gender-role stereotypes, gender-based violence, violence against children and child abuse are promoted.
3. High-quality, accessible and acceptable sexual and reproductive health services are available to meet the needs of adolescents, women and men regardless of disability, age, citizenship status, gender identity or sexual orientation.
4. Multisectoral interventions that promote gender equality, and prevent and respond to gender-based violence, violence against children and child abuse are implemented.

Related Documents for Strategic Area 1: Enabling Environment

1. Psycho Social Model Code for Practitioners