PORT OF SPAIN: 21ST APRIL, 2021
The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs is pleased to announce that Trinidad and Tobago was elected to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for four (4)-year terms, at the sixth plenary meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 20th April, 2021.
A total of twenty Member States were successful in the elections to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and Trinidad and Tobago was among the four (4) Member States of the Group of Latin America and Caribbean (GRULAC) that were elected.
The Government attaches great importance to the work of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as a critical policy-making body for fostering and accelerating the implementation of all international drug policy commitments at the national, regional and international levels. Trinidad and Tobago last served on the CND from 2008-2011 and will commence its second term on 1st January, 2022, joining Jamaica as the only other CARICOM Member State on the Commission. The meetings of the CND are held in Vienna.
In relation to its election to Commission on the Status of Women, Trinidad and Tobago was among the three (3) Member States from GRULAC elected by acclamation and will begin its term at the first meeting of the sixty-seventh session of the Commission in 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The CSW is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) within the United Nations and is the principal intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion and shaping of global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Accordingly, the CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights and has undertaken a leading role in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities as well as in monitoring and reviewing progress, challenges and gaps in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Election to the CSW is confirmation of Trinidad and Tobago’s continued commitment, both nationally and at the United Nations, on issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, specifically with respect to the participation of women in key decision-making processes, as well as in the elimination of violence and discrimination against women and girls. Additionally, the promotion of women’s empowerment, gender equality, social justice and sustainable development are common objectives of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Policy on Gender and Development and the CSW. Trinidad and Tobago was previously elected to the CSW for the period 2016 to 2020, serving as Vice-Chair for the 64th session in 2020.
The Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs has conveyed his appreciation and gratitude to the entire team at the Ministry’s Headquarters and at the Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations in New York on Trinidad and Tobago’s successful election to these two important Commissions.
