BASSETERRE St. Kitts, February 10th 2011 - “Crime and its impact on Societal Structure” will be the focus of a town hall meeting at the Methodist Church Hall (Old Boys School) Seaton Street on Tuesday 1st March, 2011 at 6:30 pm.

This activity is part of a regional project captioned ‘Advancing Transformational Leadership for Gender Justice in the Caribbean. The project is funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) which supports the training programme of the Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWIL). Project partners include the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies (IGDS Mona) and national stakeholders including ‘Winning with Women’ the local organizing project partner.

 The overall aim of the project is to promote women’s equal participation in political and public decision-making, as well as equipping Caribbean women with transformational leadership skills. Participating countries include Saint Kitts and Nevis as well as Belize, St Lucia and Jamaica.

An open invitation is extended to citizens to attend this national consultation on Crime which will provide an opportunity to explore strategies and increase participation of both women and men as politicians, policy makers, mentors and members of civil society in addressing the problem more effectively.

The feature presentation will be given by Ms. Roberta Clarke the Regional Program Director, of UN Women. The panel discussion will follow, including   Mrs. Astonia Browne, Dr. Merissa Grant, Ms. Michelle Blake and Mrs. Hazel Ross Robinson, who will make presentations on the role of the private sector in addressing crime and violence in St. Kitts and Nevis, and strategies to involve more women and men as decision-makers. A question and answer period to explore ways of promoting a transformational leadership culture to combat the problem of crime will conclude the evening’s presentation.