The Gender Affairs Unit, a section under the Cabinet Office, is responsible for promoting gender mainstreaming through research; policy advice; and gender analysis of legislation, policies, operations and programmes, within government entities. The Unit also conducts gender awareness raising activities utilising public education, and through the facilitation of sector or issue-specific training, to promote understanding of and compliance with the Gender Equality Act, the National Policy on Gender Equity and Equality (NPGEE) and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) . The Unit also provides administrative support to the Gender Equality Tribunal which conducts hearings and determines discrimination complaints based on the Act.
Functions and Activities
Gender Affairs Unit (GAU) promotes gender mainstreaming through research, policy advice, gender analysis of legislation, policies, operations and programmes within government entities; in addition to conducting public education activities, and sector or issue specific gender awareness training. The Unit also provides administrative support for the Gender Equality Tribunal.
Gender Equality Tribunal (GET) deals with discrimination complaints as they are submitted. The GET is made up of five members appointed by Cabinet. The Chairperson is an attorney-at-law and the four other members have experience and qualifications in gender, social development, human rights, labour or related fields.
Governance
The legislation that governs the major activities of the Unit are:
Cross Government Commitments
The Gender Affairs Unit Representative serves on the following committees:
- Cayman Islands Council for Older Persons
- Ministry of Education’s Early Childhood Assistance Programme Oversight Committee
- Alliance to End Domestic Violence