In a 21 May 2004 telephone interview, a representative of Marion House provided the following information to the Research Directorate. Marion House provides a variety of social, health and education services to residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including women and children who are victims of family violence.

While the representative was unable to provide information about the status of domestic violence from May 2003 until May 2004, she did mention that there has been an increase in education and awareness during this period and that this information has increased people's knowledge of where they can go to seek assistance. The representative pointed out that in 2003 and continuing into 2004, women who would like to report domestic violence are now more informed about their choices and what this process entails.

With regard to police response, the representative stated that in an overall comparison to 1999, the police are much better as of May 2004. Starting in the late 1990s there were a number of training and gender-based violence sensitization programs offered to the police to improve their skills in handling domestic violence situations. This increased education has correspondingly improved police response as more officers in 2003 and the beginning of 2004 now view domestic violence as a criminal act and not an issue of private concern.

A new development within the legal landscape of the country was the inauguration of the "Serious Offences Court" in March 2004 that was intended to cut down on the time taken to bring a serious offender to trial for serious crimes such as murder as well as some domestic violence cases that required urgent attention. While this was a new initiative, the representative believed that it was working well.

Without providing details on the source of this data, Country Reports 2003 noted that during 2003, "women made over 1,000 reports of physical, sexual, emotional, and other domestic violence" and maintained that domestic violence continued to be an issue of serious concern (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 5). Country Reports 2003 also provided information about the work of NGOs in promoting awareness of domestic violence issues and police training on how to address domestic violence calls (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 5). Moreover, in an effort to "counter the social pressure on victims to drop charges, some courts imposed fines against people who brought charges but did not testify" (Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, Sec.5). According to Freedom House's most recent country report for St. Vincent and the Grenadines spanning July 2002 to June 2003, Freedom of the World 2003, domestic violence was a significant problem within the country (Freedom House 17 June 2003).

In a 25 November 2003 press release, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA) announced that it would be initiating a public awareness campaign to educate battered women on their legal options for redress in cases of abuse. Specifically, women will be encouraged to use domestic legislation such as the 1995 Domestic Violence (Summary Proceedings) Act, and the international Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women (also known as the Belem do Para Convention) to obtain redress for violence committed against them (SVGHRA 25 Nov. 2003).

In its December 2003 Country Report, the SVGHRA listed a number of activities the organization was involved with such as assisting in the training of new police recruits in human rights and the international code of conduct for law enforcement officers. The SVGHRA also stated that it received numerous requests for support from women victims of domestic violence (Dec. 2003). Moreover, according the report, despite the great need, legal aid was only available to persons charged with murder (SVGHRA Dec. 2003).

Please see the entry for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from the 27 February 2003 UN Special Rapporteur report on violence against women for a background summary of the country's legislation, policies and programmes addressing domestic violence at: http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.2003.75.Add.1.En?Opendocument.

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines." United States, Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27919pf.htm [Accessed 14 May 2004]

Freedom House. 18 June 2003. Freedom in the World 2003. "St. Vincent and the Grenadines." http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2003/countryratings/stvincent-grenadines.htm [Accessed 12 May 2004]

Marion House, Kingstown. 21 May 2004. Telephone interview with a representative.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA). December 2003. "Country Report." http://www.svghumanrights.org/publications/svghra_report.html [Accessed 12 May 2004]

____. 25 November 2003. "The Recognition of Ending All Violence Against Women." http://www.svghumanrights.org/publications/press_releases/2003/01-11_2003.html [Accessed 12 May 2004]

Additional Sources Consulted

The Gender Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Development could not repsond within time contraints of this request.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association could not respond within time constraints of this request.

Internet sites: Amnesty International, The Daily Herald [Kingstown], Freedom House, Human Rights Internet, Human Rights Watch, Inter-American Commission of Women, Justice Studies Center of the Americas, Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defence of Women's Rights (CLADEM), United Nations Women Watch, World News Connection/Dialog.