The United Nations Development Programme Web site lists 32 national organizations that handle matters of children's rights, women's issues and domestic violence, including the YWCA, the Community Police Unit and the Department of Social Services (22 Oct. 2001). Please find attached the list of names and contacts of these organizations.

According to the Program Director of the YWCA in Trinidad, the Children's Act of 2000 has put in place policies and penalties regarding physical and sexual abuse against children (15 Apr. 2002). However, the Program Director stated that enforcement of the act is weak, owing to a lack in police resources, poor training of police officers, and a socially accepted tolerance of certain forms of abuse (ibid.). The Program Director also stated that, although authorities are willing to remove abused children from their homes, space in foster homes is limited to babies, and adolescent girls are generally sent to a facility in Port of Spain which has limited space and also houses juvenile delinquents (ibid.). According to the Program Director, the government is generally cooperative with organizations wishing to address problems of child abuse, but is unable to cope with the scope of the problem due to financial and social hindrances (ibid.).

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.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 22 October 2001. National Organizations: Trinidad and Tobago. http://www.undp.org/rblac/gender/campaign-spanish/ngotri&tob.htm [Accessed 11 Apr. 2002]

YWCA [Port of Spain]. 15 April 2002. Domestic Violence Centre. Telephone interview with the program director.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 22 October 2001. National Organizations: Trinidad and Tobago. http://www.undp.org/rblac/gender/campaign-spanish/ngotri&tob.htm [Accessed 11 Apr. 2002]

Internet sites including:

UNHCR

U.S. Department of State