Antigua and Barbuda has submitted its 2025 Belem do Para Report, marking a key step in efforts to combat violence against women.

The report, compiled by the Directorate of Gender Affairs (DoGA), details the country’s progress in meeting obligations under the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against Women, known as the Belem do Para Convention. Adopted in 1994, the treaty recognises violence against women as a human rights violation and calls on states to implement protective measures.

Covering the period from 2018 to 2024, the document reviews developments in five areas: legislation, national plans, access to justice, data collection, and diversity and inclusion.

Its preparation involved months of collaboration between DoGA and stakeholders including the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Legal Aid, Family and Social Services, the Civil Registry, and the NGO Women Against Rape.

Ashlea Ambris, DoGA Project Officer and coordinator of the report, said it reflected both policy gains and the strength of national partnerships.

“This submission speaks not only to our country’s commitment to international human rights standards, but also to the strength of our national partnerships,” she said.

Programme Officer Melanie Williams-Kirnon described tackling violence against women as a “moral imperative” for a fair society.

DoGA said the report would guide future policy, identify progress and gaps, and reaffirm Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to gender equity and international accountability. It thanked all agencies involved and pledged to continue its advocacy and monitoring role.