OVERVIEW OF THE DOMESTIC SITUATION

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SOCIAL SITUATION

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In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, children are considered a vulnerable population who face various challenges in society.

 

ERAO SVG has observed that violence, abuse, and discrimination against children are very prevalent issues in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

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ERAO SVG has also observed that more information or data appears to exist about issues affecting girls than boys.

 

Though boys experience violence, abuse, and discrimination, in some areas, such as sexual abuse, there is little to no information surrounding boys' lived realities. Due to the prevailing stigma in the country, males are also less likely to report and even go to court regarding issues such as sexual abuse.

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Notwithstanding this, ERAO SVG is aware that some progress has been made over the years concerning the rights of children.

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LEGAL SITUATION

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In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, many childrens rights have some protections under the law.

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Of particular concern to ERAO SVG is the fact that boys appear to receive less protection under the law than girls, especially in the area of sexual offences.

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Moreover, ERAO SVG is concerned about various age of consent across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, such as the age of sexual consent (expressly 15 for females and implied to be 16 for boys), the age of medical consent without parental permission (16 years old) and the age of marriage with parent consent (15 for girls and 16 for boys).

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Examples of some laws in SVG that touch on or may be applicable to the rights of children are outlined below:

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• Administration of Estates Act

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• Age of Majority Act

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• Child Justice Act (Not enforced)

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• Child Care and Adoption Act

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• Criminal Procedure Code

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• Criminal Code

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• Cybercrime Act

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• Domestic Violence Act

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• Education Act​

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• Law of Minors Act

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• Legitimation Act

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• Marriage Act

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• The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act

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• Status of Children Act

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Apart from the aforementioned local laws, SVG has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children child prostitution and child pornography.