Grenada: Update to GRD34358.E of 11 May 2000; GRD38096 of 9 November 2001 and GRD37982 of 23 October 2001 on the current status of the Domestic Violence Bill passed by Senate in early 2000; whether it is in effect; and changes in police responses to cases of domestic violence, including situation in shelters for battered women
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GRD38360.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Grenada: Update to GRD34358.E of 11 May 2000; GRD38096 of 9 November 2001 and GRD37982 of 23 October 2001 on the current status of the Domestic Violence Bill passed by Senate in early 2000; whether it is in effect; and changes in police responses to cases of domestic violence, including situation in shelters for battered women, 1 February 2002, GRD38360.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be3728.html [accessed 18 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In separate interviews with the Research Directorate, two officials at the Legal Aid and Counselling Clinic (21 Jan. 2002; 31 Jan. 2002), and an official at the office of the Superintendent of Police in St. Georges (31 Jan. 2002), all stated that the Domestic Violence Bill was passed by parliament in early 2001 and became law in June 2001.
The counsellor at the Legal Aid and Counselling Clinic was unable to evaluate the impact of the Act on the responses of the police to cases of domestic violence. However, she stated that her organization had conducted sensitive-training workshops for the police and social workers in the capital, St. Georges, and other parts of the Island (31 Jan.2002). She stated that family courts are still pursuing cases brought before them prior to the passing of the Act (ibid.). She explained that these cases are being discharged under the Criminal Code and not the new Domestic Violence Act (ibid.). The official at the office of the Superintendent said that although the Act was passed, it has not been "fully" implemented for "bureaucratic" reasons (31 Jan. 2002). He also said that in spite of the Act, there is an increase in women accessing shelters for battered women and "sometimes shelters get filled to capacity." (ibid.). This information could not be corroborated by sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Legal Aid and Counselling Clinic [St. Georges]. 21 January 2002. Telephone interview with Programme Officer.
_____. 31 January 2002. Telephone interview with Counsellor.
Office of the Superintendent of Police [St. Georges]. 31 January 2002. Telephone interview with official.
Additional Sources Consulted
Latin American Press
Internet sites including:
CIDA
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
Women's Net
Search engines including:
Mamma
