Barbados is an independent democratic nation with a bicameral system of government. It is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands with an area of 430 square km and lies within the hurricane belt. The 2015 mid-year estimates indicate that the population of Barbados is around 276,633. The population density is 1,666 people per square mile (634.1 per square kilometre) which is higher than that of Jamaica and Trinidad, that are the two most populous English-speaking countries in the Caribbean. The average annual growth rate has gradually declined from 0.4% in 1995 to-0.1% in 2015. With a fertility rate at below replacement level, ranging between 1.5 and 1.7 for the period 1995 to 2012. The country has a median age of approximately 36.9 years and a dependency ratio of 40 and is you one of Caribbean countries with one of the highest proportion of people above the age of 65.
The Government of Barbados is currently run by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) which was victorious in the last elections held in February 2013. As Head of State, the Governor General, represents Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Barbados
Key achievements include:
· UNFPA in collaboration with PAHO/WHO and other partners supported the Ministry of Health in Barbados promoting gender-sensitive and gender-responsive health care services through the development of health care protocols on sexual violence. The Ministry of Health confirmed in March 2017 that completion of this protocol is still a priority.
· UNFPA supported advocacy efforts of the Barbados Family Planning Association to promote the implementation of gender-sensitive and gender-responsive health care services including through knowledge sharing on health care protocols on sexual violence, and the creation of gender sensitization and information tools.
· UNFPA provided technical support in developing a curriculum for the Health Care Sector to respond to Gender-based Violence.
· Technical support facilitated by UNFPA contributed to strengthening the capacity of the Government of Barbados to integrate population dynamics in national frameworks; and
· UNFPA is collaborating with the Caribbean Development Emergency Response Agency (CDEMA) to support Member States in the Caribbean and civil society to respond to the unique needs of women and girls including in addressing GBV in emergency contexts through building the capacity of the first responders on GBV and SRH within the context of the MISP for SRH in crisis situations.
Opportunities include:
· Continued technical guidance and collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners including PAHO/WHO in finalizing the GBV protocol for health care providers.
· Continued collaboration for development of the National Strategic Plan for Health 2017 – 2022 with various partners including the Ministry of Health and PAHO/WHO.
· Continued support for integrating the MISP in national and regional disaster frameworks.
