Deepening partnerships to advance children's rights in the Eastern Caribbean
UNICEF Representative meets with government leaders, youth advocates and UN partners in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago
In his first six weeks as UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean, Abdulkadir Musse has undertaken a series of strategic engagements across the subregion, reinforcing UNICEF’s commitment to child rights and deepening collaboration with key stakeholders.
In Barbados, Musse met with Prime Minister the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley on 29 April, who reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to creating a better future for every child. Discussions highlighted the importance of improving healthcare, addressing violence, and investing in culture and sport as critical areas of focus.
Musse also held discussions with Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, to explore how community-based and cultural approaches can be leveraged to tackle youth violence.
A meeting with the Honourable Kirk Humphrey, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, brought together key ministry staff and Barbados’ Child Rights Ambassadors. Minister Humphrey expressed interest in working more closely with young people to shape inclusive, responsive policies.
The young advocates shared their experiences and presented innovative projects focused on mental health, bullying, and violence prevention.
"We have to bring you people on board to address issues pertaining to crime, we also had a lot of conversations around mental health issues, relationship issues, I think there are a whole range of things," said Minister Humphrey. "If we do not bring young people to the table to have these conversations then we are going to miss an opportunity to get a fresh, perhaps more genuine perspective."
From 15–17 April, Musse visited Trinidad and Tobago, accompanied by Chief of Social Policy Maryam Abdu. Hosted by UN Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana and Head of Office Tracey Hutchinson, the mission included meetings with government officials and the UN Country Team to align on shared priorities – including social protection, education, and support for migrant children.
