This Response provides information on domestic violence in addition to that provided in VCT42714.E of 26 May 2004.

Domestic violence

At a conference on violence against women, the Minister of Social Development and the Attorney-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines expressed their "firm view that spousal abuse is totally unacceptable" (Caribbean Net News 17 Jan. 2005). According to Freedom House, domestic violence is still a major problem for the island nation (23 Aug. 2004), even though the Domestic Violence (Summary Proceedings) Act, 1995 provides some protection (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17 Oct. 1995; Freedom House 23 Aug. 2004; Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment Mar. 2005). In correspondence dated 15 July 2005, a coordinator from the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA) mentioned the existence of the 1984 Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act; she indicated, without further details, that this law generally applies to married people only.

The SVGHRA coordinator pointed out that, despite the existence of the Domestic Violence (Summary Proceedings) Act, 1995, no legal assistance is actually provided to help poor women bring their domestic abuse and child support complaints before the courts (SVGHRA 15 July 2005). However, the SVGHRA holds a weekly two-hour meeting, during which the public-including victims of domestic violence-can obtain legal advice (ibid.).

The Domestic Violence (Summary Proceedings) Act, 1995 gives the courts the authority to issue a protection order to any woman who can show that her partner committed, attempted to commit or threatened to commit acts of physical, mental or sexual violence against her (ibid.; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17 Oct. 1995, Subs. 4(2)). That Act also enables women who are victims or are at risk of becoming victims of domestic violence to obtain an occupation order from the court (ibid., Secs. 7-10; SVGHRA 15 July 2005). An occupation order requires the perpetrator of the violence to leave the home for a set amount of time (ibid.; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17 Oct. 1995, Subs. 7(2), 8(1)) and, possibly, to support his wife financially (ibid., Subs. 8(2)). According to the SVGHRA coordinator, that financial support may take the form of a requirement to continue to pay rent (15 July 2005).

However, the SVGHRA coordinator indicated that poor women do not generally have access to the high court (15 July 2005).

Police response

According to the SVGHRA coordinator, police response has improved considerably since the 1980s (15 July 2005). At that time, the police generally ignored complaints of domestic violence (SVGHRA 15 July 2005). However, as a result of a training program, police now respond to domestic violence by following the procedures set out in the Act (ibid.).

Response from other organizations

According to the SVGHRA coordinator, non-governmental organizations do not have the financial resources to help victims of spousal abuse (15 July 2005). However, authorities recently bought a building that, once renovated, is to serve as a shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence (SVGHRA 15 July 2005).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within the time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Caribbean Net News. 17 January 2005. "Violence Against Women Unacceptable, Says St. Vincent Minister." http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-bin/GPrint2002.pl?file=2005/01/17/violence.shtml [Accessed 14 July 2005]

Freedom House. 23 August 2004. "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines." Freedom in the World 2004. http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/stvincent-grenadines.htm [Accessed 14 July 2005]

Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children. March 2005. "St. Vincent and the Grenadines." http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/pages/progress/reports/stvincent.html [Accessed 14 July 2005]

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 17 October 1995. Domestic Violence (Summary Proceedings) Act, 1995 (Act No. 13 of 1995), 17 October 1995. Excerpts published in Harvard University's "Annual Review of Population Law" database. http://annualreview.law.harvard.edu/population/domesticviolence/SAINTVINCENTANDTHEGRENADINES.htm [Accessed 18 July 2005]

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA). 15 July 2005. Correspondence from a coordinator.

Additional Sources Consulted

Marion House did not respond to a request for information within time constraints.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), Child Rights Information Network, The Daily Star [Kingstown], European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI.net), Human Rights Watch (HRW), One World, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association, Searchlight [Kingstown], United States Department of State, World News Connection (WNC), Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA).