Gender-Based Violence Country Profile SAINT LUCIA Contents INTRODUCTION 3 PREVALENCE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN SAINT LUCIA 4 SOCIAL NORMS WHICH DRIVE GBV 6 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK 6 GBV RESPONSE MECHANISMS AND SERVICES 9 APPENDIX 1 – LIST OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND POINTS OF SERVICE, 13 INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION APPENDIX 2 – UN WOMEN: MEASURES AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST 15 WOMEN (ST. LUCIA) GLOSSARY 16 REFERENCES 17 World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 3 INTRODUCTION Located in the Eastern Caribbean, Saint Lucia has a Economic vulnerabilities in St. Lucia are felt more population of approximately 200,000. The Constitution keenly by women, with 42.3 percent of poor of Saint Lucia prohibits all forms of discrimination and households being female headed (compared to guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms to all a national rate of 25 percent) and larger than citizens. The law provides for the same legal status male headed households,4 and more women being and rights for women as for men, requires equal pay found among the working poor, corroborating for equal work, and provides equal treatment of men the challenges women face in the labour market.5 and women for family property, nationality, and Women experience higher levels of unemployment and inheritance. 2 have lower rates of labour market participation than men, and find work in a narrower band of occupations Its economy is heavily dependent on tourism and than men due to the sex segregation in employment services, both of which have been severely affected which still exists in Saint Lucia.6 Although the Human by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Following on Capital Index (HCI) shows girls with more favourable GDP growth in 2019, the country experienced a 20.4% outcomes in education access8 and performance9 decline in GDP in 2020 but is expected to rebound and health,10 this advantage is not reflected in labour with a growth rate of 9.6% in 2022.3 However, the market and economic outcomes for women. overall economic outlook for the country is assessed as “uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the This profile looks at Gender-Based Violence (GBV)11 vulnerabilities to natural disasters”. in Saint Lucia, discussing the levels of GBV, legal, 2 Ranjitsingh Aleah N. (2016). Country Gender Assessment, Saint Lucia. Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados. 3 World Bank. (n.d.). GDP growth (annual %) – St. Lucia. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=LC 4 Average household size for poor households headed by women was 4.8, compared to 3.4 for male-headed households in poverty. See https://www.stats.gov.lc/ wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Saint-Lucia-National-Report-of-Living-Conditions-2016-Final_December-2018.pdf 5 Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. 6 Ranjitsingh Aleah N. (2016). Country Gender Assessment, Saint Lucia. Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados. 7 This is a World Bank Index which measures the human capital that a child born today can expect to have by age 18 years. See St. Lucia 2020 projections at https://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/HCI_2pager_LCA.pdf?cid=GGH_e_hcpexternal_en_ext 8 Measured by expected number of years of schooling. 9 Measured by harmonized test scores. 10 Adult survival rate and not stunted rate. 11 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) refers to acts of physical, mental or social abuse (including sexual violence) that is attempted or threatened, with some type of force (such as violence, threats, coercion, manipulation, deception, cultural expectations, weapons or economic circumstances) and is directed against a person because of his or her gender roles and expectations in a society or culture. See UN Women Virtual Knowledge Centre to end violence against women and girls. http://www.endvawnow.org/en/ World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 4 institutional and policy environment for address GBV, and psychological violence; social norms driving this violence, and the mechanisms II. Sexual assault; to prevent and respond to GBV. GBV includes all harmful acts directed at a person because of their gender. The III. Rape types of GBV included in this profile include Though not exclusively, globally, the primary targets of I. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), including physical GBV are women and girls. PREVALENCE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN SAINT LUCIA UN Women Prevalence Data on Different Forms of administrative records such as reports to the Police, Violence against Women12: the health system, the Social Protection system, or from organisations set up to respond to GBV. This data — Lifetime Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner is recorded by six agencies13; Violence: Official National Statistics Not Available I. Royal St. Lucia Police Force through its Vulnerable — Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Persons Unit: Data on the number of reports made in the last 12 months: Official National Statistics by type of case and location; Not Available II. Department of Human Services and Family Affairs: — Lifetime Non-Partner Sexual Violence: Official Data from the health sector and social protection National Statistics Not Available agencies; — Child Marriage: 24 % III. Department of Gender Relations: Agency under which policy and programming to prevent and Saint Lucia has a GII value of 0,381, ranking it 91 out of respond to GBV fall; 170 countries in 2021. IV. The Women’s Support Centre: Government run There is no available prevalence data on gender-based shelter and psychosocial services – collects data violence (GBV) for Saint Lucia. All available data is from from women who seek help from the Centre; 12 UN Women Global Database on Violence against Women. (n.d.). Saint Lucia. https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/americas/saint-lucia 13 Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 5 V. St. Lucian Crisis Centre: non-state service provider; data sources are urgently needed to provide a more collects data from women and girls who contact accurate picture of the situation.18 In its 2019 report to them or use their services. the United Nations on its progress on implementing the Beijing Platform for Action,19 the country noted that Although this administrative data is the only source underreporting remains a concern. In explaining this of data on GBV in the country, it is not provided on under estimation, officials in St. Lucia have reported a timely, periodic basis. The latest available figures 14 that there are many cultural barriers to disclosure, show the rate of cases of partner and ex-partner such as victim blaming and lack of confidentiality due violence, reported by women to social agencies, was to the small size of the island.20 In the absence of this 419 per 100,000 in 2015. The rate of violence15 against data, it acknowledges that current interventions to girls in 2015, based on Division of Human Services address the situation fall short. and Family Affairs data, was 1,268 per 100,000 girls. Though not legally recognized in St. Lucia, the UN in Without a prevalence survey, not only is there 2020 listed the country as having one of the highest no reliable estimate of the extent of problem, but rates of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean critical data on associated risk factors for GBV, and its (LAC) at 4.4 per 100,000 women.16 In 2020, there were impact and consequences are not available to inform 47 reported cases of GBV as of October, only three of programming to address GBV. The paucity and ad which had been brought to trial.17 hoc nature of data collection are areas which need focused attention if efforts to address GBV are to be Underreporting and the lack of accurate data successful. While it is expensive to implement GBV are critical concerns. The Draft National Plan of prevalence surveys, efforts can be made to streamline Action against GBV (drafted in 2016) notes that and coordinate administrative data collection to underestimation of GBV cases have ‘significant provide, if not accurate data, acceptable proxies which adverse consequences on the populations that are can be used to guide work to prevent and respond to affected because they are not counted’, and that other GBV. The most recent data available to the Follow-up Mechanism to the InterAmerican Convention for the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against 14 Women (Belém do Pará Convention) (MESECVI) is from 2015. 15 This covers sexual assault and rape. 16 In 2018, at least 3,529 women were killed because of their gender in the region. As shown in the following figure, 35 countries with the highest rates of femici- des per 100,000 women include Guyana (8.8), El Salvador (6.8), Honduras (5.1), Saint Lucia (4.4), Trinidad and Tobago (3.4), Bolivia (2.3), Guatemala (2.0) and the Dominican Republic (1.9). Data from United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLI- REC) (2020). Normative Study: Making the link between norms on violence against women and small arms control and regulation norms: Analysis of CARICOM States. http://unlirec.screativa.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Caribbean-Legal-Study-on-Gender-SALW-Sept.-2020.pdf 17 U.S. Department of State. (2020). Country report on human rights practices: Saint Lucia. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-ri- ghts-practices/saint-lucia/ 18 Summary of National Action Plan on GBV (undated, unpublished). 19 Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. 20 This was also a finding of research on the services available for women who experience sexual assault in St. Lucia. See Sudderth, L.K. (2013). Services for survivors of sexual assault in St. Lucia. Report submitted to PROSAF, quoted in Haye and Souyenne (2016). World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 6 SOCIAL NORMS WHICH DRIVE GBV Although there is no data identifying risk factors, characterized by multiple partner childbearing, social norms, and attitudes which drive GBV in St. increasing their, and their children’s, risk of IPV and Lucia, it has been widely noted that much like elsewhere DV.22 in the world, there is a culture of silence, shame and secrecy, which keeps all forms of GBV, and particularly This cycle of poverty has contributed to the IPV and family violence closeted. This is the product entrenchment of the practice of roungement— of a social context in which traditional patriarchal parents’ accepting monetary compensation to settle gender stereotypes prevail despite the educational rape and sexual assault cases out of court. This is and professional strides made by women. These illegal, but is rarely prosecuted and is still commonly stereotypes are maintained and enforced by some practiced on the island.23 Economic vulnerability and religious beliefs and practices, “resulting in resistance dependence also influence women’s decision on how to change at best and the further institutionalization to respond to acts of partner violence. Where the of discrimination against women at worst.”21 partner is the main source of financial support for the family, women are reluctant to have them arrested Inadequacies in sexual and reproductive education and sent to prison for fear of an economic fallout for reinforce ignorance of reproductive rights and how the family. Hence financial insecurity of survivors is to access and use contraceptive methods. This a key impediment to higher rates of prosecution and traps women into generational cycles of poverty accountability of perpetrators. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK Gender equality in the legal framework: With regards (over 8 indicators). The country does well when it comes to overall gender equality in the legal framework, to women’s decisions to work, laws affecting women’s according to the World Bank’s 2021 “Women, Business pay, gender differences in property and inheritance, and and the Law” study, St. Lucia scores 83.8 out of 100 laws affecting the size of a woman’s pension. However, 21 Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. 22 ibid. 23 Hayes, R.M. & Souyenne, D. (2016). Silent No More: A Qualitative Examination of Sexual Violence in Saint Lucia. International Journal of Rural Criminology, Volume 3, Issue 1 (June), 2016, pp. 92-105. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 7 St. Lucia could consider reforms related to constraints made of differences between intimate partner violence on freedom of movement, marriage, laws affecting (IPV) and other forms of family and domestic violence women’s work after having children, and constraints (DV). Additionally, the Act does not cover women in on women starting and running a business. 24 visiting relationships as DV protection is only available for cohabiting partners. Hence some victims of partner International conventions on GBV: St. Lucia is party to violence have limited protection under the law. the major international conventions to advance gender equality and eliminate GBV. However, though the The Criminal Code covers sexual offences, and was island acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of amended in 2005 to introduce new offences and All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) penalties for stalking and knowingly transmitting in 1982 and ratified the Inter-American Convention HIV/AIDS. Other offences covered under the Code on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of include unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault, Violence Against Women (‘Convention of Belem de gross indecency, buggery, sex trafficking/procurement, Para’) in 1995, the provisions of these Convention have and sexual offences related to children and people with still not been adopted in local legal framework. 25 mental impairments. The law defines rape as sexual intercourse without consent, and it carries a maximum National response to GBV: The Domestic Violence penalty of fourteen years imprisonment. It also prohibits (Summary Proceedings) Act, passed originally in rape, spousal rape, “unlawful sexual connection,” and 1994 and amended in 2005, provides protection for “indecent assault.” Though the revisions technically victims of domestic abuse and molestation.26 The law established spousal rape as an offense, it did so under gives judges in the Family Court the power to grant very limited conditions, only applying where the parties protection orders to bar perpetrators from entering the are divorced, legally or otherwise separated, or if there home, workplace, or place of education of the victim. It is Protection Order, Peace Binding Order, or a direct also allows for occupation and tenancy orders which order from the Family Court not to molest or have prevent the survivor from being evicted or removed from sexual intercourse with the complainant against the a shared home by the perpetrator.27 However, there is perpetrator. Women in presumably ‘intact’ marriages no clear definition within the Act of violence against are not protected under this provision.28 women based on gender, and no acknowledgement is 24 World Bank (2021). Women, Business and the Law 2021: St. Lucia. https://wbl.worldbank.org/content/dam/documents/wbl/2022/snapshots/St-lucia.pdf 25 Saint Lucia operates a dualist legal system in which international conventions have to be formally adopted in local laws before their provisions can be enforced nationally. 26 The Act defines Domestic Violence as “any act of violence- whether physical or verbal abuse- perpetrated by a member of a household upon a member of the same household which causes or is likely to cause physical, mental or emotional injury or harm to the abused party or any other member of the household.” 27 Magistrate can also grant other orders relating to counselling, use of furniture and household effects, payment of rent, mortgage, utilities etc. 28 Section 123(3) of the Criminal Code limits the prosecution of marital rape as follows: (3) A husband is guilty of the offence of rape where he has sexual inter- course with his wife without her consent by force, fear or the use of a drug or thing with intent to stupefy or overpower her, where there is in existence in relation to them: (a) a decree nisi of divorce or nullity granted under the Divorce Act (No. 2 of 1973); (b) a decree of judicial separation granted under the Civil Code (Cap 242); (c) a separation agreement or where the parties are in fact separated; or d) a peace binding order or an order for the husband not to molest his wife or have sexual intercourse with her including an order from the Family Court. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 8 To protect the privacy of the survivor, under the with the Sexual Offences under the Criminal Code, the Criminal Code, sexual offences cases are heard only in Act makes provision to protect the privacy of victims, camera, not in open court, and there are restrictions providing for proceedings to be held in camera.30 on the publication of reports on the matter. Publication of reports on the matter is an offence under the Code. Sexual harassment is addressed under the Equal Opportunity and Treatment in Employment Act, The legal minimum age for marriage is 18 for men 2000, and is an offence only in relation to places of and women, but children aged sixteen can marry with employment.31 Although the law prohibits sexual parental consent. Despite this, only adults, age 18 and harassment, it remains a problem, since government over can make an application for protection under the enforcement is not seen an effective deterrent. Indeed, DV Act. This leaves child wives, who are at heightened most cases of sexual harassment are handled in the risk of IPV, without any legal protection under the Act workplace rather than prosecuted under the law.32 before they are 18 years old. This gap needs to be addressed. Saint Lucia does not have a national gender equality policy and has no formal system – such a gender focal The country has no specific law which defines or points – to ensure that gender equality considerations prohibits child pornography, and while there are laws are incorporated in all government policies, plans and which address violence in the domestic space, these programmes.33 There is however, a draft National Plan laws do not address the gendered dimension of such of Action (NPA)34 to End GBV, which was developed in violence. Additionally, femicide is not recognized as a 2016, but not yet given final approval by Cabinet. specific crime in St. Lucia. 29 The draft NPA is built on six broad objectives/ The crime of trafficking in persons is established thematic areas35 and details strategies and specific under Counter Trafficking Act, No. 7, 2010, which gives actions for the achievement of each, as well as national effect to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, indicators to measure progress. It also identifies the and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol). As possible partnerships for success under each broad 29 Saint Lucia Country Report Third Round Follow-Up Mechanism Convention of Belém Do Pará (Mesecvi). Fourteenth Meeting of The Committee of Experts (Cevi) November 27-28, 2017, Panamá City, Panamá. http://www.oas.org/es/mesecvi/docs/FinalReport2017-SaintLucia.pdf 30 The Act also safeguards the immigration status of victims; provides for the return of victims to their country of citizenship or lawful residence; assistance to vic- tims who are unable to prove their national status through normal means and makes special considerations for victims who are children. 31 Section 8 of the Act states that “Any act of sexual harassment against an employee committed by an employer, managerial employee or co-employee shall cons- titute unlawful discrimination based on sex … and constitutes an offence.” 32 U.S. Department of State. (2018). Country reports on human rights practices: Saint Lucia. https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-ri- ghts-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ 33 Ranjitsingh Aleah N. (2016). Country Gender Assessment, Saint Lucia. Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados. The development of the plan took place under “Strengthening State Accountability for Ending Gender-Based Violence in the Caribbean,” a project undertaken by 34 UN Women (The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) and the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP). 35 There are awareness, leadership, research and evaluation, innovative solutions, strategic planning and integration and strategic alliances. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 9 objective. The plan makes provisions for a national level health issue, there is no public health policy on violence coordinating mechanism with the Division of Gender against women and girls in Saint Lucia. Though there Relations (DGR) as the coordinating body. However, is no clear policy framework, there are established there has been no implementation of the NPA, due to protocols to handle cases of sexual violence.36 However, resource and capacity constraints, mainly within the intimate partner physical violence is treated like all DGR. cases of physical violence, with no special protocols for its management in the public health system.37 Although GBV is internationally considered a public GBV RESPONSE MECHANISMS AND SERVICES There are several organisations which provide a objectives of the DRG are to, inter alia: a) coordinate range of services to prevent and respond to GBV national programmes to influence policy towards the in St. Lucia. The Department of Gender Relations achievement of gender equality and improving gender (DGR) is the agency responsible for promoting gender relations; b) provide technical advisory services and equality and driving the government’s response to collaborate with government and the private sector GBV. It has mounted public education campaigns on to implement programmes that address gender GBV, provides counselling services to survivors and inequalities; c) provide technical assistance to NGOs perpetrators, and collects data on GBV from service to strengthen their capacity to address issues that providers and first responders. Falling under the aegis would respond to the needs of women and men in their of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender communities.38 Relations and Sustainable Development, the main 36 The established medico/legal protocol requires the presence of a female police officer in cases of sexual assault. In that regard, where victims of sexual assault present to the Accident and Emergency Department, the police will be notified so that the protocol for evidence collection can be conducted. However, where a patient does not wish to notify the police, they will not be called in. Based on the experience of Accident and Emergency staff, however, victims are usually willing to have the police notified. In most instances however, the victim reports the matter to the police who accompanies the victim to the accident and emergency department where the sexual assault examination is carried out. The officer is also present during the examination of the victim and the administration of the rape kit. (See for reference: Assessment of Essential Services for Women and Girls Subjected to Violence in Saint Lucia, p.10) 37 Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development. (2019). Assessment of Essential Services for Women and Girls Subjected to Violence in Saint Lucia. 38 Saint Lucia Country Report Third Round Follow-Up Mechanism Convention of Belém Do Pará (Mesecvi). Fourteenth Meeting of The Committee of Experts (Cevi) November 27-28, 2017, Panamá City, Panamá. http://www.oas.org/es/mesecvi/docs/FinalReport2017-SaintLucia.pdf World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 10 One initiative by the DRG to address GBV has been of domestic violence and is guided by the Protocol to establish a network of community response teams for Referring Women to the Women Support Centre. (CRT) around the island, in an effort to embed GBV Its establishment and the training41 received by its prevention and response in the community. These are members have helped to improve responsiveness multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral team comprising law and sensitivity to GBV. Nonetheless, survivors report enforcement, community health facilities, community- dissatisfaction with the handling of reports of GBV, based organisations, and individual volunteers. describing treatment as ‘unprofessional and uncaring’ Members received training in Violence Against Women in some instances, and there is a perceived lack of and Girls (VAWG) and the dynamics of IPV and were confidentiality.42 It is clear that despite several training provided with information on the services available to activities, and the inclusion of a module on GBV in the victims of VAWG as well as how to provide referrals. police training curriculum,43 there is still considerable Due to limited capacity of the DGR to coordinate room for improvements through ongoing training and support these teams, they have not been able to of officers to staff the unit. This capacity deficit is consistently carry out their mandate. exacerbated by the reassignment of police trained in the Unit to other departments within the Police Force. The Family Court 39 performs both adjudicatory and social support functions. In addition to hearing cases Police are the first responders in the most severe of DV, it also provides social and therapeutic services cases of GBV, yet they face several challenges in to both victims and perpetrators of GBV. It has in the meeting the needs of survivors. Among these are a past run court-ordered programmes for perpetrators40, lack of basic resources such as transportation, which an anger management group, and a women’s group for at times prevent them from responding immediately survivors. Social workers are attached to the Court, to reports of GBV. The DGR has also identified gaps in and court ordered mediation is also provided. training of police officers in trauma-specific interview techniques as a major problem for evidence collection. The Vulnerable Persons Team is a special unit in the police force that is responsible for handling all cases Few cases are prosecuted,44 and even fewer 39 The Family Court is a stand-alone court in the District Court that deals with family maintenance (support), domestic violence, care and protection of children, criminal juveniles, attachment of salary, custody and access (children of never married parents) and protection orders for the partner or the child. 40 “Brothers Living with Change” (a 16-week closed group) and a group that allows ongoing entry of new participants. The programmes are well attended as failure to attend can lend to a fine or imprisonment (Country Gender Assessment, 2016).It is not clear if these programmes continue. 41 VPT members receive training upon assignment, as well as ad hoc training from other actors including the St. Lucia Crisis Centre (SLCC) and the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA) on issues related to violence against women, but these efforts are described in the Beijing +25 report as infrequent and insufficient. 42 Hayes, R.M. & Souyenne, D. (2016). Silent No More: A Qualitative Examination of Sexual Violence in Saint Lucia. International Journal of Rural Criminology, Volume 3, Issue 1 (June), 2016, pp. 92-105. 43 This gives an overview of the cycle of domestic violence, reasons why women remain in abusive relationships, types of violence, profile of an abuser, barriers to ending violence, the impact of domestic violence on women and children, role of the police in curbing the incidence of domestic violence and social agencies which manage cases of domestic violence; is also made to police officers. 44 Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 11 perpetrators convicted. Few cases if IPV are shepherded survivors of IPV on the island. In addition to the basic through the legal system because women are reluctant necessities provided by the shelter, clients also have to report events and to press charges. The decision to access to information, counselling, and legal services. take concrete legal steps against a partner is often Recognizing that IPV is fostered by several intersecting difficult for women, and even with improvements in risk factors, including economic vulnerability, the the environment for making such reports, women need Centre also provides job placement and skills training more direct support to help them navigate the legal services. Where possible, clients are assisted to secure system from reporting through adjudication. permanent housing in a safe location. The slow pace at which cases meander through Health facilities are critical service providers in the the justice system is also a deterrent to survivors response to GBV. Though the sector adopts a human claiming their rights under the law, as are the low rights approach to the provision of medical care to level of enforcement and the perceived leniency of the citizens, the delivery of health care services to victims sentences imposed on perpetrators.45 There is also no is not generally women centered. Several constraints clear provision for victim reparations under the DV; as make it difficult for health services to adequately a result, women who want to pursue compensation implement a survivor focused approach in treating with would have to begin a new case in the civil court at GBV cases. Space limitation in health care facilities their own expense. Not surprisingly, this is rarely done. and the absence of designated areas for dealing with issues of VAWG compromise patient privacy, especially In responding to GBV, there are organisations in relation to victims of sexual violence.47 For example, which provide a range of services, including shelter, the presence of a female police officer and the visibility reporting services via hotlines, psychosocial support of a rape kit to the general population in the Accident such as counselling, protection planning and crisis and Emergency room infringe on survivors’ rights to intervention, information on available community privacy, adding to their trauma. resources, legal and social assistance, job placement and skills development services, and alternative long- Current gaps in the health services provided for GBV term housing (See Appendix 1). 46 survivors indicate a need for further training for health care personnel in the dynamics of IPV and VAWG Women’s Support Centre, is funded by the government in general and training in the medico-legal aspects of through the DGR and is the only residential facility for VAWG such as preparing to give evidence in court, in 45 UNFPA and UN Women. (2019). GBV Framework Assessment. 46 Saint Lucia Country Report Third Round Follow-Up Mechanism Convention of Belém Do Pará (Mesecvi). Fourteenth Meeting of The Committee of Experts (Cevi) November 27-28, 2017, Panamá City, Panamá. http://www.oas.org/es/mesecvi/docs/FinalReport2017-SaintLucia.pdf 47 Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 12 particular.48 The health system is also a crucial point Strengthening of the social services sector, through for the identification of victims of IPV, but women who capacity building for the delivery of quality service present with injuries are not routinely asked to identify and increased resources for ongoing public awareness the source of their injuries, specifically whether they and sensitization and education programmes is resulted from IPV. This is only identified if the patient necessary.49 chooses to disclose without being asked directly. A routine screening tool which asks directly about IPV There are no established and/or enforced protocols experiences may help not only to increase the accuracy for the delivery of services in this landscape of of the GBV produced by the health sector, but also to multiple actors, resulting in duplication of services increase the number of women who are referred to and in some instances and a gap in others. Moreover, access services for survivors of domestic violence. poor and inadequate communication strategies create an information gap both among providers and Several civil society organizations are also involved in potential beneficiaries of the services.50 To address the efforts eliminate GBV. Among these organizations this deficiency, the DGR has developed a GBV referral are the National Organization of Women (NOW), United pathway, with technical support from UNFPA and and Strong, Raise Your Voice, the St. Lucia Blind Welfare UN Women. Once finalized and made public, this is Association, the National Council of and for Persons expected to provide a seamless, more efficient flow of with Disabilities and the National Youth Council. They information about what services are available, eligibility, provide counselling, referral and education services to and methods of accessing services.51 This should also promote prevention. The Saint Lucia Crisis Center, a promote a more survivor-centered approach to GBV nongovernmental organization receiving government response, streamlining the process from point of report assistance, maintains a facility for female victims of to response and resolution, and potentially minimizing domestic violence and their children, and a hotline for the stigma and trauma which are exacerbated by the support. The DGR has expressed concerns about the social dynamics of a small island state. quality of services and accuracy of information offered by the CSOs, particularly the new entrants to GBV prevention and response. The DGR notes that many of these services are delivered in an ad hoc manner and need to be more structured and systematic. 48 ibid 49 Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development. (2019). Assessment of Essential Services for Women and Girls Subjected to Violence in Saint Lucia. 50 Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. 51 “Rigobert condemns violence against women, spread of photo.” (2021, Jan. 25). St. Lucia Loop News. https://stlucia.loopnews.com/content/rigobert-condem- ns-violence-against-women-spread-photo World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 13 APPENDIX 1 – LIST OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND POINTS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION Name of Organisation GBV Service Provided Contact Government Organisations Department of Gender Relations Hotline; counselling, legal services, skills training, job placement, alternative Ground Floor, Georgian Court housing Building, John Compton Highway, Castries, St. Lucia. Public education campaigns, referral services +1 758-716-3123 · Women’s Support Centre Residential shelter for women and children (up to 5 families); legal services, Contact via DGR counselling Family Court Cases management, counselling for survivors and perpetrators, Protection City Courthouse, Castries Orders, Occupation Orders, Tenancy Orders Tel: 758-453-2839. Vulnerable Person Team/Unit Emergency response, investigation, arrest, and provision of evidence for Tel: 758-456-3980 (Southern prosecution. Public education campaigns, referrals Division) 758-456-4050 (Northern division). World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 14 Civil Society Organizations St. Lucia Crisis Centre Emergency shelter facilities, hotline, counselling, public education, Ms. Rufina Paul/ Ms. Paul-Akuffo referrals 107 Chausee Rd. Castries, St. Lucia. Tel: 758-453-6848 National Organisation of Women Public education campaigns, referrals. Ms. Virgina Albert Tel: 758-450-5247 United and Strong Public education around GBV and the LGBTQI community; referrals Adaryl Williams Tel; 758-450-0976 Raise Your Voice St. Lucia Training on GBV prevention and response using human rights based Manoel Street and survivor centered approaches. Castries Tel: 758-723-4227. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 15 APPENDIX 2 – UN WOMEN: MEASURES AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (ST. LUCIA)52 https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/americas/saint-lucia 52 UN Women Global Database on Violence Against Women. (n.d.). St. Lucia. https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/americas/saint-lucia World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 16 GLOSSARY Gender Roles that are determined socially, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women. These roles are contextual and influenced by a society’s culture and traditions, as well as by prevailing religious beliefs. Gender-Based Any act of violence that results in, or the nature of which causes, physical, sexual, or Violence (GBV) psychological harm or suffering to someone because of his or her sex. This including threats through similar acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private life (UN, 1993). Sex Refers to the biological and physiological characteristics which differentiate men and women. Sexual Exploitation Any real or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, power differential, or relationship of confidence for a sexual purpose, including, but not limited to, taking financial, social, or political advantage of another through sexual means. Sexual Abuse Real or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether it be by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. Sexual Harassment Unwelcomed sexual advances, demand for sexual favors, or any other verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature. In the workplace, submission to these advances or behaviors may made either implicitly or explicitly a condition of continued employment, promotion, or other decisions affecting a person’s employment. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 17 REFERENCES — Hayes, R.M. & Souyenne, D. (2016). Silent No More: A Qualitative Examination of Sexual Violence in Saint Lucia. International Journal of Rural Criminology, Volume 3, Issue 1 (June), 2016, pp. 92-105. — Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development. (2019). Assessment of Es- sential Services for Women and Girls Subjected to Violence in Saint Lucia. — Ministry of Education, Gender Relations, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2019). Beijing +25 Report on The Comprehensive National Level Review of The Status of Implementation of The Beijing Declaration and Plat- form for Action. — U.S. Department of State. (2018). Country reports on human rights practices: Saint Lucia. https://www.state. gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ — U.S. Department of State. (2020). Country report on human rights practices: Saint Lucia. https://www.state. gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/saint-lucia/ — Ranjitsingh Aleah N. (2016). Country Gender Assessment, Saint Lucia. Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados. — “Responding to Gender-Based Violence: Saint Lucia Frontline Workers Training Booklet.” Raise Your Voice St. Lucia, Inc. (2017). Available at: https://noviolence.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Training-Booklet-St.-Lucia- 2017-Final.pdf — “Rigobert condemns violence against women, spread of photo.” (2021, Jan. 25). St. Lucia Loop News. https://stlu- cia.loopnews.com/content/rigobert-condemns-violence-against-women-spread-photo — Saint Lucia Country Report Third Round Follow-Up Mechanism Convention of Belém Do Pará (Mesecvi). Fourte- enth Meeting of The Committee Of Experts (Cevi) November 27-28, 2017, Panamá City, Panamá. http://www.oas. org/es/mesecvi/docs/FinalReport2017-SaintLucia.pdf — UNFPA and UN Women. (2019). GBV Framework Assessment. World Bank GBV Country Profile: SAINT LUCIA Page 18 — UN Women Global Database on Violence Against Women. (n.d.). St. Lucia. https://evaw-global-database.unwo- men.org/en/countries/americas/saint-lucia — World Bank. (n.d.). GDP growth (annual %) – St. Lucia. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.Z- G?locations=LC — World Bank (2020). Saint Lucia Human Capital Index. https://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/ HCI_2pager_LCA.pdf?cid=GGH_e_hcpexternal_en_ext — World Bank (2021). Women, Business and the Law 2021: St. Lucia. https://wbl.worldbank.org/content/dam/do- cuments/wbl/2022/snapshots/St-lucia.pdf Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice, Latin America and the Caribbean Region Published: June 2023