Since poverty traps women in multiple layers of discrimination and hinders their ability to claim their rights, ending feminized poverty has always been a core UN WOMEN priority. Not only do women bear a disproportionate burden of the world's poverty, but in some cases, globalization has widened the gap, with women losing more than their share of jobs, benefits and labour rights.

From tax systems to trade regimes, however, economic policies and institutions still mostly fail to take gender disparities into account. With too few seats at the tables where economic decisions are made, women themselves have little chance of rectifying the deepening of existing inequalities.

UN WOMEN Caribbean continues to strengthen Women's Economic Capacity to face the challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the context of globalisation, new trade agendas and the emergence of new technologies.

UN WOMEN'S work is aimed at strengthening the capacity of government and non-governmental agencies which have been created to improve the condition and position of women; and to influence the formulation of policies, plans and programmes which enhance and support women's productive capabilities.

Currently, UN WOMEN Caribbean works to strengthen capacity in the region to produce, analyze and apply gender statistics and indicators. We support gender mainstreaming of macroeconomic, trade and poverty eradication policies as well as gender training for Caribbean economists.

We also support the engendering of national MDG related processes and reports by facilitating training for women's groups and support their participation in decision making processes.

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