Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Violence against women and children, particularly incest, including protection available, 1995-May 2000

Information on sexual and domestic violence law and practice further to that provided in VCT33921.E of 23 February 2000, VCT31725.E of 19 May 1999, VCT29569.E of 12 June 1998 and its attachments, and previous Responses, could only be found in Country Reports 1999, which provides the following statements on violence or abuse against women and children in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:

Violence against women, particularly domestic violence, remains a major problem. The Government took legislative steps to address this problem through the Domestic Violence/Matrimonial Proceedings Act (1994) and the more accessible Domestic Violence Summary Proceedings Act (1995). Both laws provide for protective orders, as well as occupation and tenancy orders, although the former is only accessible through the High Court, whereas the latter can be obtained without the services of a lawyer in family court. Since passage of the laws, the SVGHRA has conducted numerous seminars and workshops throughout the country to familiarize citizens with their rights under these acts. Increasing numbers of women are coming forward with domestic violence complaints.

Depending on the magnitude of the offense and the age of the victim, the penalty for rape is generally 10 or more years in prison.

In 1995 the legislature amended the Child Support Law to allow for payments ordered by the courts even when notice of an appeal has been filed. Previously, fathers who had been ordered to pay child support could appeal decisions and not pay while the appeal was being heard. This resulted in a huge backlog of appeal cases and effectively reduced the number of mothers and children receiving support payments. The family court was established in 1995 in the capital city of Kingstown with one magistrate. According to the SVGHRA, because there is only one bailiff to service all the country, summonses often are not served on time for cases to be heard as scheduled in court.

…Marion House, a social services agency established by the Catholic Church in 1989 and staffed by four trained counselors and three foreign volunteers, provides counseling and therapy services.

…The Domestic Violence Summary Proceedings Act provides a limited legal framework for the protection of children. Nevertheless, reports of child abuse remain high and are on the increase. The Social Welfare Office is the government agency responsible for monitoring and protecting the welfare of children. The police are the enforcement arm; the Social Welfare Office refers all reports of child abuse to the police for action (25 Feb. 2000, Section 5).

Please note that VCT27817.E of 9 September 1997 includes as an attachment a 7-page (NEXIS format) report based on responses from the Coordinator of the Department of Women's Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines before members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (M2 Presswire 23 Jan. 1997).

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.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. 25 February 2000. "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines." [Accessed 19 June 2000]

M2 Presswire. 23 January 1997. "UN Government Efforts to Include Women's Issues in Law Stressed by Rep of Saint Vincent & Grenadines." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases.

Latin American Regional Reports: Central America & the Caribbean [London]. 1999-Apr. 2000.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1999-Apr. 2000.

WIN News [Lexington, Mass]. 1999-May 2000.

World News Connection (WNC).

Internet websites including:

Pan-American Health Organization

Internet Search Engines including:

Fempress [Santiago]. 1998-May 2000.