Minister Rawdon Turner held talks with international partners this week aimed at expanding opportunities for women in Antigua and Barbuda during the second day of a global policy forum on gender equality.

On the margins of the meeting, Turner met with Lin Yi, Vice President and Secretariat Member of the All-China Women’s Federation, to discuss possible collaboration that could support women locally through training programmes, skills development initiatives and entrepreneurship opportunities.

During the exchange, Turner outlined the government’s plans to establish a gender-based violence shelter in Antigua and Barbuda. The facility is intended to provide longer-term accommodation for survivors of abuse while also offering counselling, legal guidance and other support services to help women rebuild their lives.

The project is being developed with support from the International Health Outreach (IHO) in partnership with the Directorate of Gender Affairs, and the minister indicated that the government is exploring assistance from international partners to help finance the initiative.

Turner was accompanied during the discussions by Glentis Thomas, First Secretary at Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and Ashlea Ambris, Project Officer at the Directorate of Gender Affairs.

Separately, the Antiguan delegation held a bilateral meeting with officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat’s gender unit to review preparations for the Women’s Forum scheduled alongside the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda this November.

The forum is expected to bring together heads of state, women parliamentarians, international development partners and civil society groups to discuss policies aimed at advancing women’s leadership and empowerment.