Antigua and Barbuda will be hosting the 8th OECS (Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States) Council of Ministers: Human and Social Development Meeting
from April 17th -19th, 2023.
The OECS Commission has a mandate, in accordance with the Revised Treaty of
Basseterre (2010), to engender cooperation among member states in an effort to
achieve the harmonization of systems.
The Social Inclusion and Social Protection (SISP) Unit of the OECS Commission
pursues functional cooperation in the field of Social Development, in recognition
too, of the value of the collaborative effort in dealing with very complex social
issues and their impact on Small Island Developing States.
The meeting of the COM:Social is an annual event that provides a platform for
ministers across the OECS region to collectively reflect on issues in social
development, share on local strategies and innovations to address some of these
challenges, and to collaborate in troubleshooting issues to develop joint
approaches, policies, and practices in an effort to improve the access to quality
social services in the region.
This year, the Technical Advisory Committee meeting will take place on Monday
17th April 2023 and the Council of Ministers meeting is carded for Tuesday 18th
April 2023.
A core aspect of the TAC and COM meetings for this year will be the OECS
Regional Social Inclusion and Social Protection (SISP) Strategic Action Plan
2023-2030. In 2019, the OECS Commission embarked on and completed a Social
Inclusion and Social Protection Framework, with a plan to complete this SISP
Strategic Action Plan the following year.
The completion of this OECS Regional Social Inclusion and Social Protection
Strategic Action Plan 2023-2030, in collaboration with their UN partners and the
joint SDG Fund, has been delayed by the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, which has
turned the world upside down. In alignment with Article 23 of the 2010 Revised
Treaty of Basseterre, establishing the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
Economic Union, the OECS SISP Strategic Action Plan 2023-2030 will set the
foundation and serve as a key guiding document in the social sector for the OECS,
and toward a better quality of life for people in the OECS through achieving the
associated sustainable development goals (SDGs).
It aims at providing a common regional strategic action plan for addressing issues
of social protection, equal access to quality social services and empowerment
across the life-cycle for the OECS region. It emphasizes the promotion and
protection of human rights, non-discrimination, and respect for diversity, equality
of opportunity, solidarity, security, and participation of all people.
Theme: Touching Lives through Data-Driven Development.
