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24 January 2000
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MORNING
HR/CRC/00/18
24 January 2000
COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD CONSIDERS REPORT OF GRENADA
The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning started its consideration of the initial report of Grenada on the efforts made by that country to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The report was introduced by Brenda Hood, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Women Affairs and Social Security of Grenada, who said that since the country had ratified the Convention, it had endeavoured to raise the standards of its domestic legislation to reach the ideals of the treaty.
According to the report, there were increasing concerns that existing legislation was archaic and not sensitive to the needs of children vis-a-vis the kinds of problems they encountered in present-day society; and that children's issues did not seem to command the prominence that they ought to on either the legislative or the administrative levels.
Discussion over the course of the morning meeting focused on the general topics of the definition of the child; general principles of implementation of children's rights; civil rights and freedoms; and family environment and alternative care.
In addition to Ms. Hood, Grenada's delegation also included Arlene Daniel, Senior Coordinator for Women's Affairs of Grenada.
As one of 191 States parties to the Convention, Grenada must submit periodic reports to the Committee on its efforts to put into effect the terms of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will conclude its consideration of the report of Grenada.
Report of Grenada
The initial report of Grenada (document CRC/C/53/Add.55) reviews the situation of children and the measures taken by the Government with the view to implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It says that the current economic situation in Grenada has adversely influenced the effectiveness of the already limited services for children. As a result, the growing needs of children are not adequately met with the available human and financial resources.
The report says that there are increasing concerns that existing legislation is archaic and not sensitive to the needs of children vis-a-vis the kinds of problems they encounter in present-day society. Children are at the forefront of many programmes organized by the Government and non-governmental organizations. However, there is no national plan of action ensuring the well-being of Grenadian children.
Children's issues do not seem to command the prominence that they ought to on either the legislative or the administrative levels, the report says. In many instances, policies regarding children are either vague, not known, or non-existent. One area that has received attention by the present Government is the family court.
Grenada is the largest of the three islands which constitute the nation of Grenada, the other two being Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Grenada is located on the southern end of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles, approximately 90 miles north of Trinidad. According to the 1991 census, the population of Grenada stood at 95,343 inhabitants. Youth under the age of 18 years account for approximately 46.4 per cent of the total population.
Discussion
BRENDA HOOD, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Women's Affairs and Social Affairs of Grenada, responding to a written list of questions prepared by Committee members in advance, said that since Grenada had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it had endeavoured to raise the standards of its domestic legislation to reach the ideals of the Convention. She noted that 25 per cent of the nation's parliament were female deputies, which meant it had one of the highest rates of female representation in the world.
Ms. Hood said that the National Coalition on the Rights of the Child had been set up by an Act of Cabinet and was working towards the review of legislation concerning children. As a result of the efforts of the Coalition, the Adoption Act was passed in 1994 and the Child Welfare Act in 1998. A review of other disparities between the Convention and other domestic legislation had been carried out in 1999. There were no instances where the provisions of the Convention had been formally used in court.
In response to questions raised by Committee experts, the Grenadian officials said that the country was benefiting from international technical assistance such as from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), among others. The Government was collaborating with those organizations in addition to other international non-governmental organizations.
In order to increase public awareness on the rights of children in Grenada, the Government had been putting in place a programme to inform the population on the rights of children, the delegation continued to say. All members of the society were sensitized to the issue of child rights and the provisions of the Convention.
There was no Ombudsman for children to specifically listen to children, the delegation said. However, the Government was planning to set one up before the end of the year. For the time being, judges encouraged children to come forward to provide evidence in courts. Traditionally, in the Grenadian society, children were "seen and not heard". The initiative of the judges might alter the traditional thinking against children. A new educational act would also be enacted in the course of the current year to strengthen the participation of children in school affairs.
The Government of Grenada was reviewing all its legislation in order to ratify the International Labour Office conventions on child labour, the delegation said. In Grenada, child labour was not seen as a serious problem. When children assisted their parents in their business activities, it was not considered as child labour. However, the Government was planning to amend the existing law in order to raise the age limit to take up employment from 14 years to 16 or 18. In addition, the country had no specific law on children which was different from the criminal law.
Primary education was compulsory and free for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years, the delegation said. In addition, the Ministry of Education had designated October as "child month" with the theme of "Love the Child". The mass media was heavily involved in the month of celebrations and in the promotion of child rights.
In recent years, the percentage of the national budget allocated to children had been increased, the delegation said. The national budget reflected the commitment of the Government to children; education received the highest percentage of the budget followed by health.
Corporal punishment was unacceptable despite a provision in the law which allowed it, the delegation said. The Government had submitted a proposal to amend the legal provision and had launched a campaign to raise public awareness on flogging of children. Nevertheless, there had been resistance, even by some church members who justified the need for the application of corporal punishment by referring to verses from the Bible.
Answering a question on registration of child birth, the delegation said that there was no problem relating to registration in the country. Child birth registration did not wait until children were baptized as alleged by one expert. Although some children were baptized at an older age, they were registered immediately after birth. It was also noted that birth certificates were essential to start school.
Further, the delegation said that protection of the best interest of the child was an integral part of the work of the Child Welfare Authority. However, no specific measures had been taken to ensure the principles of the best interest of the child were reflected in legislation.
HR/CRC/00/18
24 January 2000
COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD CONSIDERS REPORT OF GRENADA
The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning started its consideration of the initial report of Grenada on the efforts made by that country to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The report was introduced by Brenda Hood, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Women Affairs and Social Security of Grenada, who said that since the country had ratified the Convention, it had endeavoured to raise the standards of its domestic legislation to reach the ideals of the treaty.
According to the report, there were increasing concerns that existing legislation was archaic and not sensitive to the needs of children vis-a-vis the kinds of problems they encountered in present-day society; and that children's issues did not seem to command the prominence that they ought to on either the legislative or the administrative levels.
Discussion over the course of the morning meeting focused on the general topics of the definition of the child; general principles of implementation of children's rights; civil rights and freedoms; and family environment and alternative care.
In addition to Ms. Hood, Grenada's delegation also included Arlene Daniel, Senior Coordinator for Women's Affairs of Grenada.
As one of 191 States parties to the Convention, Grenada must submit periodic reports to the Committee on its efforts to put into effect the terms of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will conclude its consideration of the report of Grenada.
Report of Grenada
The initial report of Grenada (document CRC/C/53/Add.55) reviews the situation of children and the measures taken by the Government with the view to implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It says that the current economic situation in Grenada has adversely influenced the effectiveness of the already limited services for children. As a result, the growing needs of children are not adequately met with the available human and financial resources.
The report says that there are increasing concerns that existing legislation is archaic and not sensitive to the needs of children vis-a-vis the kinds of problems they encounter in present-day society. Children are at the forefront of many programmes organized by the Government and non-governmental organizations. However, there is no national plan of action ensuring the well-being of Grenadian children.
Children's issues do not seem to command the prominence that they ought to on either the legislative or the administrative levels, the report says. In many instances, policies regarding children are either vague, not known, or non-existent. One area that has received attention by the present Government is the family court.
Grenada is the largest of the three islands which constitute the nation of Grenada, the other two being Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Grenada is located on the southern end of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles, approximately 90 miles north of Trinidad. According to the 1991 census, the population of Grenada stood at 95,343 inhabitants. Youth under the age of 18 years account for approximately 46.4 per cent of the total population.
Discussion
BRENDA HOOD, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Women's Affairs and Social Affairs of Grenada, responding to a written list of questions prepared by Committee members in advance, said that since Grenada had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it had endeavoured to raise the standards of its domestic legislation to reach the ideals of the Convention. She noted that 25 per cent of the nation's parliament were female deputies, which meant it had one of the highest rates of female representation in the world.
Ms. Hood said that the National Coalition on the Rights of the Child had been set up by an Act of Cabinet and was working towards the review of legislation concerning children. As a result of the efforts of the Coalition, the Adoption Act was passed in 1994 and the Child Welfare Act in 1998. A review of other disparities between the Convention and other domestic legislation had been carried out in 1999. There were no instances where the provisions of the Convention had been formally used in court.
In response to questions raised by Committee experts, the Grenadian officials said that the country was benefiting from international technical assistance such as from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), among others. The Government was collaborating with those organizations in addition to other international non-governmental organizations.
In order to increase public awareness on the rights of children in Grenada, the Government had been putting in place a programme to inform the population on the rights of children, the delegation continued to say. All members of the society were sensitized to the issue of child rights and the provisions of the Convention.
There was no Ombudsman for children to specifically listen to children, the delegation said. However, the Government was planning to set one up before the end of the year. For the time being, judges encouraged children to come forward to provide evidence in courts. Traditionally, in the Grenadian society, children were "seen and not heard". The initiative of the judges might alter the traditional thinking against children. A new educational act would also be enacted in the course of the current year to strengthen the participation of children in school affairs.
The Government of Grenada was reviewing all its legislation in order to ratify the International Labour Office conventions on child labour, the delegation said. In Grenada, child labour was not seen as a serious problem. When children assisted their parents in their business activities, it was not considered as child labour. However, the Government was planning to amend the existing law in order to raise the age limit to take up employment from 14 years to 16 or 18. In addition, the country had no specific law on children which was different from the criminal law.
Primary education was compulsory and free for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years, the delegation said. In addition, the Ministry of Education had designated October as "child month" with the theme of "Love the Child". The mass media was heavily involved in the month of celebrations and in the promotion of child rights.
In recent years, the percentage of the national budget allocated to children had been increased, the delegation said. The national budget reflected the commitment of the Government to children; education received the highest percentage of the budget followed by health.
Corporal punishment was unacceptable despite a provision in the law which allowed it, the delegation said. The Government had submitted a proposal to amend the legal provision and had launched a campaign to raise public awareness on flogging of children. Nevertheless, there had been resistance, even by some church members who justified the need for the application of corporal punishment by referring to verses from the Bible.
Answering a question on registration of child birth, the delegation said that there was no problem relating to registration in the country. Child birth registration did not wait until children were baptized as alleged by one expert. Although some children were baptized at an older age, they were registered immediately after birth. It was also noted that birth certificates were essential to start school.
Further, the delegation said that protection of the best interest of the child was an integral part of the work of the Child Welfare Authority. However, no specific measures had been taken to ensure the principles of the best interest of the child were reflected in legislation.