St. Lucia: Update to LCA25545.E of 9 January 1997 on the recourse available to victims of spousal abuse

The Research Directorate contacted three specialists (4 Feb. 1999) to obtain current information on the recourse available to women victims of spousal abuse/domestic violence in St. Lucia. All three sources provided information. They are the Director, Division of Women's Affairs, Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Women of St. Lucia; the President of the St. Lucia Crisis Centre, located in the capital, Castries; and the Information Officer for the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA), located in Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Director of Women's Affairs and the President of the Crisis Centre both indicated that no domestic violence-related legislation has been introduced or amended  since January 1997.

With regard to the Family Courts authorized by the Family Court Act of 1994, both the Director of Women's Affairs and the President of the St. Lucia Crisis Centre stated that these courts began functioning in 1997. The President of the Crisis Centre mentioned that the Family Court opened with a "stockpile of adjourned cases," with the result that "during the critical July-September 1998 period when needy mothers seeking maintenance for minor school children are at peak priority, there was no magistrate to hear their cases." The President added that one of the most common complaints with the Family Court is the "low ceiling [for] child maintenance-$25 weekly per child and a three-month wait after failure to pay before a warrant can be signed against the father of the child."

With regard to provision of legal aid, shelters, counselling and other services to battered women, the Director of Women's Affairs stated that these issues "are presently under discussion and form part of the division's work plan to address domestic violence."

The President of the Crisis Centre stated that the legal aid clinic operated by the Roman Catholic Church in Castries was forced to close due to a lack of financial support and volunteers. With regard to the women 's shelter project mentioned in LCA21334.E of 11 August 1995 and LCA25545.E of 9 January 1997, the President of the Crisis Centre stated:

The shelter project proposed by the Crisis Centre was approved by Cabinet, gazetted and funding budgeted ... in 1996. [However], red tape ... created a delay, [and in 1997] the government changed. The new PM gave his assurances in 1997, but obstacles arose with the responsible ministry. The new ... Minister for Women's Affairs wants consultation with overseas agencies prior to supporting the ... Crisis Centre [proposal], and just last week a consultant was brought in from the UK to discuss this issue. Her verdict: a shelter for battered women is a priority. A second phase in this discussion is due for March, [but] in the meantime the need for this facility is more urgent than ever.

The President mentioned that the Crisis Centre is continuing its efforts to secure funding from other sources to purchase properties suitable for a shelter and a home for girls.

The Director of Women's Affairs indicated that Family Court rulings usually include mandatory counselling for both victims and perpetrators, and individual/group counselling is offered by social workers attached to the court. According to the President of the Crisis Centre, however, the counselling offered by both the Family Court and government social services agency is "found wanting by many victims in need of help," and as a result the "Crisis Centre is still very much sought out by victims of all ages, gender and class." The President mentioned that the Crisis Centre had been in operation for ten years as of October 1998, and during this time had provided counselling in over 6,000 new cases of domestic violence, and to an almost equal number of repeat clients.

 Both the Director of Women's Affairs and the President of the Crisis Centre indicated that there have been no recent improvements with regard to training for police officers and judicial officials. The President of the Crisis Centre stated that public outcry over two recent cases involving the rape and murder of young women resulted in promises of specialized training for policemen, but to date nothing has been done. The Director of Women's Affairs indicated that better training for police and judicial officers is "under discussion and form[s] part of the division's work plan to address domestic violence."

Both the Crisis Centre president and CAFRA information officer mentioned a recent (1998) year-long campaign organized by CAFRA and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to raise public awareness of domestic violence. The Crisis Centre and Division of Women's Affairs joined other regional centres in this campaign. The Director of Women's Affairs indicated as well that the Women's Affairs division is continuing its own efforts to raise public awareness about domestic violence through publicity campaigns and publication of educational materials, brochures and flyers.

 The Director stated that government authorities have "articulated concerns" about domestic violence, but the Crisis Centre president indicated there has been little change in the attitudes of government authorities since 1997. The president mentioned that recent lectures, workshops, exhibitions, church services, radio and television programmes and outreach programmes organized by the Crisis Centre, although fully supported by the Governor General, were not supported or attended by members of the government. Both the Women's Affairs director and Crisis Centre president indicated that their organizations continue to work together to raise awareness about domestic violence and to find solutions to the problem.

Additional information on domestic violence in St. Lucia can be found in the U.S. Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997, which also highlights the work being done by the St. Lucia Crisis Centre in assisting women victims of domestic violence.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA), Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago. 4 February 1999. Correspondence from the Information Officer.

Women's Affairs Division, Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Women, Castries. 4 February 1999. Correspondence from the Director.

St. Lucia Crisis Centre, Castries.  4 February 1999. Correspondence from the President.

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report 1998. 1998.

CAFRA News [Tunapuna].

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1996, 1997.

Human Rights Watch World Report 1999. 1998

Electronic sources: IRB databases; Internet; LEXIS/NEXIS