Population size:
110,900 [1]
Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:
No research.
Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:
No research.
Estimated % change due to COVID-19:
No research.
Current law and policy:
The Minister responsible for Gender affairs Frederick Stephenson called on citizens to help promote a zero tolerance approach to violence against women and girls.[2] In 2011, UNICEF reported that domestic violence legislation in St Vincent and the Grenadines was not sufficiently comprehensive and not enforced in some cases.[3] Legislation such as the 1995 Domestic Violence (Summary Proceedings) Act, has since been amended (2015) to increase the scope of protection for victims of domestic violence.[4] In September 2019, Minister Frederick Stephenson, stated that his Ministry was engaged in an ongoing public awareness campaign to raise awareness on the issue of GBV, legislation and making supportive structures and programmes available to both victims and perpetrators of violence.[5]
At the launch of the 16 days of activism in November 2019, the Minister (ibid) called upon the police to treat domestic violence reports as urgent matters to be dealt with.[6] Whilst speaking at a stakeholder consultation on the review of sexual offences provisions in the Criminal code in December 2019, the Minister (ibid), said a multi - sectoral approach was necessary to tackle sexual violence.[7]
In January 2020 at a conference violence in the workplace, the Minister (ibid) condoned the level of violence against women in St Vincent and the Grenadines and made a direct appeal to men in the country to stop perpetuating violence against women.[8]
Sources
[1] Worldometer, “Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Population (Live)”, (worldometers.info)
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