St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Caribbean SRHR Observatory

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”LOGO and Country Title” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://caribbeansrhrobservatory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Flag_of_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines.svg” title_text=”Flag_of_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Poppins|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”33px” text_letter_spacing=”2px” header_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_6,1_6,1_6,1_2″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_6″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Population Growth
0.5 (per 100)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Infant Mortality
15 (per every 1000 live births)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Adolescent Birth Rate
40.5 (10-19 years)[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_6″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||fa||900″ admin_label=”Icon” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]27.3% of women are of Reproductive age[/et_pb_text][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||fa||900″ admin_label=”Icon” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Neo-natal Mortality
12 (per every 1000 live births)[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_6″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||fa||900″ admin_label=”Icon” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Maternal Mortality
117 (per 100,000 live births)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||fa||900″ admin_label=”Icon” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Total Fertility Rate
1.4 births per woman[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The restrictions relating to abortion which remain in the Criminal Code of St. Lucia, has resulted in women being unable to access abortion effectively. This has resulted in continuing unsafe abortions and the use of abortifacient medicines which are available on the black market, without prescriptions.

Currently only an abstinence-only sex educational program. Moral and religious norms appear to still dictate the content of the Health and Family Life Education curricula as well as the delivery of the content. Study showed no pattern of significant positive effects.

The limited definition of violence against girls in the Criminal Code creates a concern that the Criminal Code may inadvertently allow for different types of violence against women, including sexual harassment.

Click here to download country report (PDF)

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St Vincent and the Grenadines

State policies and legislative resources

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Criminal Code 1990
Sexual Offences under Cap. VII of the Criminal Code
Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2011
Domestic Violence Act, amended in 2015.
Child Abuse Protocol (2006)
Child Justice Act (2019)

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National Tripartite Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS, Revised Draft (2011)
National Child Protection Policy Framework (2015-2020)

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National Action Plan against Gender-Based Violence, 2015-2018
Updated National Action Plan to combat human trafficking (2021-2025) (p. 5).
National Strategic Plan for HIV (2010-2014)

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Recommendations
- Strengthen the delivery of age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education in the HFLE curriculum and for out-of-school adolescents and youth.
- Train competent facilitators or service providers to deliver the Health and Family Life Education program, in line with the UN guidelines on comprehensive sexuality education, and implement accountability measures to measure the effectiveness of knowledge acquisition on the part of the students in order to ensure access to accurate information and health services for sexual and reproductive health nationally.
- Revise the existing HFLE curriculum to bring it in line with UN technical guidelines on comprehensive sexuality education and provide on-going, regular training for teachers and providers curriculum to ensure content is delivered in a nonjudgmental, evidence-based and non-biased manner which does not reinforce existing cultural, religious or gender stereotypes,

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REcomendation 1
Recommendation 2

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Title

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GBV and SRHR Advocacy stakeholders

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Gender Affairs Division of the Ministry of National Mobilization
Gender Equality Commission, 2017
Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force
Domestic Violence Crisis Centre in 2012, incl. short-term accommodation for victims of domestic violence and trafficking

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Women Against Rape (WAR)
Vincent Planned Parenthood Association (SVPPA)
End Violence Against Children
End Corporal Punishment
Human Rights Council
Grenadines Human Rights Association
Vincy Chaps

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Thematic Issues

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No specific legislation that addressed discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or social status.
Access to justice for women and girls continued to be a hindered process due to lack of resources, empathy and general understanding of women’s and girls’ issues. The law does not transparently prohibit marital rape.
Despite all the laws, protocols and protections in place and the creation if the Anti Trafficking in Persons Unit in 2012, human trafficking remained an issue in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

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There is no existing legislation addressing the issue of sexual harassment.
The 2015 Domestic Violence Act, had not been amended despite the criticism on the financial burden it placed on victims and on the undefined role of the crisis centre. Domestic violence is not recognized as a criminal offence under the Domestic Violence Act.
Despite the establishment of a Sexual Offences Unit within the Criminal Investigation Department, there was mistrust in reporting incidents of gender-based violence and sexual abuse to police officers and many of such cases were not effectively reported.
The Marriage Act provides a minimum legal age for marriage 15 years for girls and 16 years for boys.
Corporal punishment of children is still lawful despite repeated recommendations to prohibit it by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Access to justice for women and girls continued to be a hindered process due to lack of resources, empathy and general understanding of women’s and girls’ issues.
No Ombudsman or a human rights institution of any kind and recommended that the country establish, with the support of international partners, a national human rights institution in accordance with the Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles).

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Vincent and the Grenadines, Country report, Third round. Follow-up mechanism oea/ser.l/ii.7.10 Convention of Belém do Pará (MESECVI) MESECVI/CEVI/doc.270/17, Fourteenth Meeting of the Committee of Experts (CEVI) November 21, 2017
National Report St. Vincent and the Grenadines, May, 2019. Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and Adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)
National Report St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the implementation of Montevideo, 2019
National report St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Human Rights Council, Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, 39th Session, November 2021
Summary of Stakeholders’ submissions on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Human Rights Council, Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, 39th Session, November 2021
Vincent Planned Parenthood Association (SVPPA), 2021, submissions on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Human Rights Council, Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, 39th Session, November 2021
Corporal punishment of children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Briefing for the Universal Periodic Review, 39th Session, November 2021, Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, 2020
Joint Submission of the United Nations Sub-regional Team for Barbados and the OECS (UNST) for the 3^rd Cycle of the UPR of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 39th Session, November 2021

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LATEST ACHIEVEMENTS / WORK IN PROGRESS

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Beijing 25+ Report

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