The information that follows was provided during an 11 May 2000 telephone interview with a representative of the Legal Aid and Counseling Clinic at St. Georges, Grenada, and adds to previous Responses on the subject.

The Domestic Violence Bill was passed by the Senate in early 2000, but by 11 May 2000 had not yet been signed and proclaimed by the Governor General, and thus is is not in effect. After the bill becomes law, the supporting system it requires will have to be developed.

The Child Protection Act was recently proclaimed. However, it must be noted that the Act is designed specifically to protect children in institutions such as orphanages; it does not cover the whole range of child welfare issues, such as intra-family situations. To implement the Act, a child welfare authority has been appointed, along with a child welfare officer.

Police response to cases of domestic violence has remained unchanged by May 2000 and is still considered a problem. However, in addition to changes that the Domestic Violence Law is expected to produce, the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA) has launched a program, sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank, to train police officers across the Caribbean region. The first stage of the program is taking place between 6 and 12 May in Trinidad, with one officer from each country, among them Grenada, being trained to serve as a resource person and a trainer in their own country. The second stage is scheduled for mid-June in Jamaica, where a group of 100 police officers and social workers from non-government organizations will receive training.

Other recent developments regarding gender issues in Grenada has been the April 2000 transformation of the Ministry of Housing, Social Services and Women's Affairs into the Ministry of Housing, Social Security, Gender and Family Affairs. At present, Grenada has one shelter for abused women run by the state. The Legal Aid and Counseling Clinic is currently preparing a public education program aimed a educating women about the Domestic Violence Law once it is proclaimed, and also to obtain feedback from the affected population to determine possible shortcomings of the law and propose amendments to it.

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.

Reference

Legal Aid and Counseling Clinic (LACC), St. Georges. 11 May 2000. Telephone interview with representative.

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases.

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

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

NEXIS.

REFWORLD.

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

World News Connection (WNC).

Internet Websites including:

Pan-American Health Organization

UNIFEM/UNDP

WomenWatch/CEDAW

Internet Search Engines including.

Fempress [Santiago]. 1998-May 2000.

Google.

Metacrawler.