Chilean Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno (OAS Photo/Patricia Leiva)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Chile and the Organization of American States have signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen capacities in the area of violence against women in the Eastern Caribbean.

The initiative targets violence against women in Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“The problem still exists, but we are working very hard to reduce it,” said OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, who stressed that protecting women’s human rights was one of the OAS’ priorities. “It is very important that we continue providing technical assistance to countries to improve their legislation.”

Chile recently contributed $1 million for social development in the Caribbean countries, of which $113,000 targets gender-based violence in the region.

“The ability of Caribbean countries to act together with the international community and to create a common market of 16 million people is a lesson for all of us,” said Chilean Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno. ”

Deborah-Mae Lovell, the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the OAS, said the Caribbean Community thanked Chile for its continue assistance for social development.

She called the letter of intent “another example of the government of Chile’s partnership with the Caribbean.”

In February, Chile and CARICOM held a Joint Commission in Santiago, the second time the two sides had held such talks.

The agreement was signed at the residence of Chilean Ambassador to the United States Felipe Bulnes.