Barbadian women continue to shoulder the majority of caregiving, work, and social responsibilities, despite decades of advancements in gender equality, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey stated on Tuesday. Speaking at the 30th anniversary commemoration of the Beijing Declaration at United Nations House in Christ Church, Humphrey highlighted the enduring gender disparities in Barbados. Between July 1 and September 15, the Welfare Department issued 2,478 back-to-school cheques totaling $1.62 million to assist children, with over 95% of applications submitted by women. These figures underscore not only financial needs but also the persistent imbalance in responsibilities between men and women. “Women bear a disproportionate share of daily burdens, especially during crises,” Humphrey emphasized. He stressed the necessity of data-driven solutions to address these inequities, referencing the ongoing country assessment of living conditions, which will inform a new poverty line by early 2026, and the planned establishment of the Social Empowerment Agency to enhance social service delivery. Humphrey also linked gender inequality to climate challenges, noting that women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters. “Eighty percent of those displaced by climate disasters are women and girls,” he said, warning that the climate crisis exacerbates existing inequities. Isiuwa Iyahen, head of UN Women’s Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, echoed the call for action, recalling Caribbean women’s historical struggles against systemic barriers. Despite significant progress, disparities persist. Barbadian women earn 86-87% of men’s wages, and up to half of women with partners experience intimate-partner violence. Women also perform two to three times more unpaid care work than men, limiting their economic opportunities. “Laws alone are insufficient—financing, implementation, and cultural change are urgently needed,” Iyahen concluded.