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Sexual violence against women in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
– Reported, March 30, 2012
The United States (US) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices reports that the police in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines investigated 47 cases of rape and 8 cases of attempted rape, but only 18 of these cases were brought to trial .
Legislation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Legislation pertaining to rape and other sexual offences is found in Chapter VIII of the Criminal Code of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (St. Vincent and the Grenadines 6 Oct. 1988). Sources indicate that a conviction for rape generally results in a penalty of approximately ten years in prison (Freedom House 2008; US 11 Mar. 2008, Sec. 5). The maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment (ibid.; St. Vincent and the Grenadines 6 Oct. 1988, Sec.123 (1)); however, the maximum penalty is rarely imposed (US 11 Mar. 2008, Sec. 5). A lesser charge of indecent assault carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment unless the victim is under the age of fifteen years, in which case the maximum penalty is five years’ imprisonment (St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sec. 127 (1) (a-b)). Many sexual offences are dealt with by Family Court at the preliminary stage .
In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, victims of an abusive domestic relationship may apply for a protection order (St. Vincent and the Grenadines n.d.b; ECLAC 23 Nov. 2001, 17-18); however, an evaluative study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) notes that existing legislation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not afford protection to persons in a “visiting relationship” in which the victim and alleged abuser have not shared the same residence (ibid., 18). ECLAC was established in 1948 by a UN resolution for the purpose of contributing to economic development in Latin America, and is also mandated to promote social development in the region (ibid. n.d.).
A draft bill, which provides protection for victims of sexual violence outside of a familial or live-in relationship, has been drawn up to address the issue of domestic violence in member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) (OECS Dec. 2007b). OECS is a regional organization whose mission is to contribute to the sustainable development of member states and to facilitate bilateral and multilateral cooperation (ibid. n.d.a). According to a 2006 World Bank document, member states, which include Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (ibid. n.d.b), are expected to adopt the legislation at the national level (World Bank July 2006). The draft bill is part of the OECS Family Law and Domestic Violence Legislative Reform Project, an initiative aimed at harmonizing family law in member states (ibid.). It defines a “domestic relationship” as one involving two persons who
“are or were in an engagement, dating or visiting relationship which includes but is not limited to an actual or perceived romantic, intimate or sexual relationship of any duration” (OECS Dec. 2007a, Part I, Sec. 2 “domestic relationship” (f)).
The draft bill defines domestic violence as including threats, non-physical forms of abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking, property damage and entry without consent into a victim’s place of residence (ibid. Part I, Sec. 2 “domestic violence” (a-i)). Information on when this bill is expected to be passed in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Attitudes toward victims
Information on attitudes of the authorities and the general public toward victims of sexual violence could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response, but the following information may be of interest.
In 2008, a media source reported on two high-profile cases where charges of sexual assault were laid against Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Caribbean Media Corp. 5 Apr. 2008). According to the Canadian Press, three other women have made similar allegations against Gonsalves (CP 31 May 2008). One of the high-profile cases involves the alleged January 2004 assault of a woman who resides in Canada (ibid.; Caribbean Media Corp. 5 Apr. 2008; SKNVibes 23 Sept. 2008); the other high-profile case involves a female police officer who was on security duty at Gonsalves’ official residence in Saint Vincent on 3 January 2008 when the alleged offence took place (Caribbean Media Corp. 5 Apr. 2008; see also AI 7 Feb. 2008). The Director of Public Prosecutions has reportedly discontinued the investigation into both cases (Caribbean Media Corp. 5 Apr. 2008; CP 31 May 2008). The female police officer appealed her case to the High Court and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal but eventually dropped the charges (Caribbean Media Corp. 20 Sept. 2008; SKNVibes 23 Sept. 2008). Her former lawyers claimed that she was pressured to withdraw the charges (ibid.; Caribbean Media Corp. 20 Sept. 2008).
Two members of an independent human rights organization called the Saint Vincent and Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA) (SVGRA n.d.) who had assisted with the case involving the female police officer reported being “threatened and “intimidated” (AI 7 Feb. 2008).
Assistance to victims
Information on organizations that specialize in offering assistance to female victims of sexual violence could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Country Reports 2007 notes that Marion House, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that offers social programs, health and education services and counselling to residents of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in Kingstown and Georgetown (OAS n.d.), provides counselling to victims of abuse but does not specify if its services include support for victims of sexual violence (US 11 Mar. 2008, Sec. 5).
The mission statement of the SVGHRA indicates that it promotes human rights in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVGHRA n.d.). Members of SVGHRA provided legal assistance in one of the cases of alleged rape brought against Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (AI 14 Feb. 2008).
Credits: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
More Information at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,,VCT,4562d94e2,49b92b262,0.html
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