OVERVIEW OF THE DOMESTIC SITUATION

​

​

SOCIAL SITUATION

​

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, persons with mental and physical disabilities face many unique challenges that other persons in society may not experience.

 

ERAO SVG has observed that many of these persons experience exclusion, stigma, prejudice, discrimination, abuse, and violence in Vincentian society. Some persons even view them as "cursed", "demon-possessed", or suffering from specific conditions as a result of a "sin" they or another person may have committed. 

 

As a result, persons with disabilities face issues including but not limited to: low self-esteem; stigmatising language; family rejection; inaccessible information and communications technology; difficulties accessing public places, transportation, education, and the labour market; exploitation; emotional, verbal, physical and sexual abuse; bullying; violence; discrimination; and, poverty.

​

Notwithstanding this, ERAO SVG is aware that progress has been made over the years concerning the rights of persons with disabilities. There is a Mental Health Centre on the island of St. Vincent dedicated to the care of persons facing mental health challenges, as well as the existence of several schools focused on the education of persons with disabilities such as the School for Children with Special Needs, Kingstown, the School for Children with Special Needs, Georgetown, and the Bequia Sunshine School.

​

​

ERAO SVG is also aware that over the years, various infrastructure has been built or renovated in order to better accommodate the differently-abled. 

​

​

LEGAL SITUATION

​

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, persons with disabilities have some protections under the law.

​

Currently, ERAO SVG is also aware that the State is in the process of creating a Disabilities Act and revising the Mental Health Act. 

​

However, apart from these laws or proposed laws, very few pieces of legislation exist that address the needs of persons with disabilities. Additionally, even when their needs are being addressed, it is not done effectively. 

 

Examples of some laws in SVG that touch on or may be applicable to the rights of persons living with mental and/or physical disabilities are outlined below:

​​

• Education Act

​

• Criminal Code

​

• Domestic Violence Act

​

• Criminal Procedure Code

​​

• Protection of Employment Act

​

• Disabilities Bill (Not passed yet)

​

• Mental Health Act (In the process of being revised)

​

• Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Non-contentious Probate and Administration of Estates) Rules, 2017

​

• Power of Attorney Act

​

​

Apart from the aforementioned local laws, SVG has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, it has not signed nor ratified the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities.