Written by: Simone
Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) is known for beautiful beaches, multiculturalism, calypso, soca, and of course, carnival. Also well-known, and often a common topic of conversation when discussing Trinidad, is the high crime and violence rate. What is left out of that discussion are some of the underlying root causes of these issues, such as: high unemployment in violence-prone areas; low minimum wages; lack of public trust in the police; poor police tactics; corruption; poverty; legacies of colonialism and imperialism; racism; and gender inequality.
Young folks, gender-expansive folks, women, and girls are on the frontlines in T&T and are actively working to address many of the social justice issues impacting their communities. Global Foundation For Girls (GFG) is designed to work with these organizations on the ground to support them in their efforts. Your support would help address some of the issues listed below:
- Gender-Based Violence: GBV, particularly IPV(intimate partner violence) and incest, is an ongoing challenge in Trinidad and Tobago, with the number of incidents steadily rising. According to UN Women, in 2018, 7.5% of women aged 15-49 years reported that they had been subject to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. Two organizations affiliated with the GFG program are The Coalition Against Domestic Violence T&T, a group that fights against domestic, sexual, emotional, psychological, and other forms of violence against women and others, and The Organization for Abused and Battered Individuals, which addresses violence against men, women, girls, and boys alike within Trinidad and Tobago, Latin America, and the rest of the Caribbean. They pay special attention to women and children and those who come from vulnerable communities.
- Period Poverty: Period Poverty is a real issue in T&T. A study conducted in 2023 found that of a sample of 504 women between the ages of 18-48, “76% of the sample did not believe that period products were affordable, and 51% reported that they struggled to obtain period products. Additionally, 55% indicated that they had to borrow or change their current brand of the period product, and 51% revealed that they had to improvise or use alternative products such as toilet paper, napkins, and paper towels. This is an issue that severely needs our attention.”
- Trinidad’s Youth –
- Trinidad’s crime rates have been consistently increasing over the years. In 2017, the country received 71 reports of sexual-related offenses. In 2020, there were 399 reported murders. While the cause of death among Trinidad’s youth is predominantly due to injury, disease, and infant mortality, there is serious oversight of violence against women and those part of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Homophobia and The Effects on Trinidad’s Youth – Gay people were only “allowed to exist” in peace and proclaim their identity out loud a mere four years ago, in 2018. At the time, Trinidadian Jason Jones estimated there were 100,000 LGBTQ+ persons on the island. Before 2018, gay people would have faced up to 25 years in prison for simply saying they’re gay due to the country’s former “buggery” law.
- These incidence rates have led to the creation of organizations such as the Silver Lining Foundation, which focuses primarily on research-based training and advocacy programs to protect LGBTQ+ members and gender-fluid youth on the island. Other organizations include I Am ONE TnT, the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), and the Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS).
- Racism – Another major issue Trinidad’s youth are subject to is the ongoing divide between races on the island. 34.2% of Trinidadians are of East Indian descent, while 35.4% are African, and mixed people account for 22.8% of the population. This history of conflict between the groups is long, and conversations about racism as a formal discussion have come to the fore in the country in recent years. There is a lot of work to be done.
- Birthing Persons: The State of Infant and Maternal Mortality- Trinidad’s hospitals are far better off than many other countries, yet there are losses to consider. According to UNICEF, the infant mortality ratio stands at 15 per 1,000 births, and 92% of women receive postnatal care. Their maternal mortality ratio is 67 deaths per 100,000 births. In 2018, Trinidad happily reported that there were no direct maternal deaths on the island. It’s unclear if the ensuing years saw the same results. We wonder what that means exactly; what about issues related to domestic violence during pregnancy and postpartum, intimate partner homicide during pregnancy? These are all issues that need to be explored and addressed through partnerships with grassroots organizations on the ground.
There is so much amazing work being done in T&T; BIPOC-led, local grassroots organizations that can use our support. There is also an association for single mothers and a few youth-led organizations that we are eager to partner with. To assist the folks of T&T in their fight for basic human rights and liberation from oppressive forces, please support us today. You can help T&T continue to make positive changes for marginalized populations.
Global Foundation for Girls will continue to partner with those organizations mentioned here, as well as many more, with your support. Your contribution will help us support them in their quest to challenge gender-based violence, racism, oppression, and inequity.