Grenada: State protection for abused children

On the question of state protection available to abused children, the Director of the Social Welfare Division at the Ministry of Women's Affairs, who was interviewed by telephone on 25 May 1999 and subsequently on 27 May 1999, responded that the Grenada Child  Protection Act provides for protection of children and women who are victims of abuse.

The Interim Executive Director of Grenada Save the Children Fund (GRENSAVE) who is also Secretary of the National Coalition on the Rights of the Child (NCRC)  stated on 25 May 1999 that women often hesitate to come forward and denounce abuse even in circumstances where child protection is at stake for fear of losing  their sole source of financial support which would come as a result of being separated from the perpetrator of the abuse.  The Interim Executive Director stated that the Child Protection Act had received parliamentary assent in 1998 but has not yet been proclaimed, and that therefore the Act cannot yet be enforced.  According to the Interim Executive Director the Act provides for the removal of any child who is considered at risk either through emotional or physical abuse.  Currently a child would be removed by a social worker accompanied by a community relations worker of the police force.  However after proclamation of the Act any individual would be legally enabled to seek a court order to have a child removed  from an abusive home.  Currently, according to the same source, once a child is removed from the home he or she may be placed in one of five child care homes on the island.

Beyond these homes 3/4 which are privately run and state-subsidized but not licensed by the government 3/4 there are few alternatives for abused children.  He added that after proclamation of the Child Protection Act these homes will  have to obtain operating licenses.  The Executive Director also indicated that the homes are safer for the children in the sense that  children are given shelter and meals, but that they do not provide an adequate environment for the personal development of children  In addition, staff working in the homes are often inadequately trained and lack necessary resources to operate the homes successfully.  The Executive Director also mentioned that UNICEF  had conducted a study of the children's homes which recommended that the homes in Grenada be organized to target specific age groups.  He added that the homes on the island currently accept children of all ages to a maximum of 17 years.

During a subsequent interview on 27 May 1999 the Interim Executive Director described the homes which are available for abused children as "repositories" where children are not currently able to receive appropriate intervention for the emotional trauma which they have sustained.  He cited a recent case where an 11 year old girl who had been sexually abused had not been admitted to the Bel-Air home which is the newest and a "magnificent" facility, because the staff there believed the supervisory setting to be inappropriate to her needs, since they assumed her to be sexually active.  The girl was then referred to a facility for children with psychiatric problems.  The Executive Director indicated that therapists such as clinical psychologists are not available on the island.  Children placed in the homes may continue to attend school if they are within walking distance from the home and one of these provides bus service for the children.

When asked what other recourse was available to abused children the Interim Executive Director of Save the Children added that children could be placed with relatives on a temporary basis by the NCH Action for Children, a local NGO.

In a telephone interview of 27 of May 1999 the Senior Manager of a Grenada NGO, the NCH Action for Children (NCH) corroborated that the Child Protection Act has not yet been proclaimed and therefore cannot be enforced.  The Senior Manager of the NCH added that the Act is very narrow, its main focus being on children who are already institutionalized.  She added that both a Child Welfare Act and a Family Court would be needed and presently do not exist.  The NCH  manages a foster care programme whereby abused children who are removed from their family are placed with relatives.  "If relatives are unable to accommodate such children, they are then placed with other members of the community once these people are well investigated and found to be of a good character, caring, understanding and showing of love." (22 May 1999)

According to the Senior Manager,  the NCH  programme is attempting to expand on a national scale as an alternative to the children's homes which presently exist. 

The Coordinator of the Legal Aid and Counselling Clinic in St. Georges who was interviewed by telephone on 25 May 1999, replied that there is no specific protection on the part of the state for children in these circumstances.  The Coordinator  explained that laws which exist are "very loose and make it very difficult for social organizations to intervene" on behalf of children.

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.

References

Grenada Save the Children Fund (GRENSAVE).  25 and 27 May 1999.  Telephone interviews with Interim Executive Director.

Legal aid and counselling clinic.  25 May 1999.  Telephone interview with Coordinator.

Ministry of Women's Affairs.  25 May 1999.  Telephone contact with Director of the Social Welfare Office.

NCH Action for Children.  27 May 1999.  Telephone interview with Director.