CARICOM, UN and UNDP launch regional framework to tackle crime and violence

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the United Nations (UN), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have formally launched two regional policy instruments aimed at reshaping how crime and violence are addressed across the Caribbean, shifting the focus toward prevention through a public health lens.

The launch introduced the CARICOM–UNDP Diagnostic Document and the Proposed CARICOM–UN Framework for Action, which together establish a coordinated regional approach to violence prevention and long-term social stability across CARICOM Member States.

Held in Basseterre, the two-day event brought together government officials, regional institutions, UN agencies, civil society representatives, academics, and development partners. The documents were developed through extensive regional consultation and are intended to support a shift toward prevention-oriented security governance across the Caribbean.

The Diagnostic Document compiles data, analysis, and trends on crime and violence in the region, strengthening the case for treating violence as a public health issue driven by multiple social and economic factors. The accompanying Framework for Action sets out an implementation pathway across sectors including health, education, justice, social protection, and community systems, designed to support national adaptation while maintaining regional coordination.

Both documents emphasise that sustained reductions in violence depend on cross-sector collaboration, reliable financing, and long-term political commitment that can extend beyond electoral cycles.

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis and CARICOM Chair Dr Terrance Drew said the success of the initiative depends heavily on political commitment and a shift in mindset away from enforcement-only approaches.

“Nothing can really be done unless there is political will,” he said. “Political will is what allows us to implement policies and to put whatever is necessary behind them. To see CARICOM and the United Nations now throwing their weight behind the preventative approach for the Caribbean, I am hopeful because I know this will work.”

He added that effective implementation of the framework could lead to measurable improvements in regional crime and violence trends over the next decade.

CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development Alison Drayton said the initiative reflects a transition from policy discussion to coordinated action.

“Interconnected threats demand more than isolated national responses,” she said. “This launch represents a pivotal transition from shared concern to collective, strategic action.”

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Stephanie Ziebell said the diagnostic report provides a shared evidence base to better understand the root causes of violence, while the framework offers flexibility for countries to design tailored responses.

“It moves us from understanding the problem to thinking about how we build solutions,” she said, describing the approach as adaptable rather than prescriptive.

UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten Johanna Kazanna said the region is increasingly recognising that enforcement alone is insufficient to address violence sustainably.

“These documents reflect an important regional shift toward treating violence as a development and governance challenge, not simply a security issue,” she said.

The Basseterre launch is expected to inform the upcoming CARICOM Regional Symposium on Crime and Violence and contribute to the development of a Regional Framework for 2026–2030, with further alignment discussions planned among Heads of Government.

CARICOM, the UN, and UNDP say the initiative represents a broader effort to strengthen prevention systems, improve social cohesion, and address underlying drivers of violence such as inequality, exclusion, and limited opportunity across the Caribbean region.