Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Reporting History before the UN Treaty Bodies

Treaty Body Recommendations Addressing Programme Areas

[The following are selected recommendations included in each Committee’s Concluding Observations to country reports. Selection is based on population issues addressed by UNFPA, and some recommendations may address more than one subject. The recommendations presented belong to the last report submitted, and may not reflect actions taken since towards their implementation.]

Population and Development

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Sixty-third session, (4-22 August 2003). The Committee considered the second to tenth periodic reports of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, submitted as one document (CERD/C/378/Add.1), and adopted the following concluding observations.

• Recalling that racial discrimination and poverty issues intersect, the Committee recommends that the State party include in its next periodic report information on affirmative action measures adopted, in conformity with article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention, in order to ensure the adequate development and protection of minority groups, in particular the Caribs. The enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including access to public services, must be ensured for all without discrimination, in accordance with article 5 of the Convention.

Committee on the Rights of the Child, Thirtieth session (May 2002). The Committee considered the initial report of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (CRC/C/28/Add.18 and adopted the following concluding observations.

The Committee urges the State party to:

1. Establish an effective mechanism for the systematic collection of disaggregated quantitative and qualitative data incorporating all the areas covered by the Convention and covering all children below the age of 18 years;
2. Make use of indicators and data in the formulation of policies and programmes for the effective implementation of the Convention;
3. Seek technical assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF.

Reproductive Health

Committee on the Rights of the Child, Thirtieth session (May 2002). The Committee considered the initial report of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (CRC/C/28/Add.18 and adopted the following concluding observations.

The Committee recommends that the State party:

1. Increase its efforts to promote adolescent health, including mental health, policies, particularly with respect to reproductive health and substance abuse and health education in schools, ensuring the full participation of adolescents;
2. Consider means of reducing teenage pregnancy, including strengthening reproductive health education for adolescents, and ensure the provision of full health and counselling support for pregnant girls and that these girls are able to continue their formal education.

Treaty Body Recommendations Addressing Population Groups

[The following are selected recommendations included in each Committee’s Concluding Observations to country reports. Selection is based on population groups relevant to UNFPA's mandate, and some recommendations may address more than one subject. The recommendations presented belong to the last report submitted, and may not reflect actions taken since towards their implementation.]

Children and Adolescents

Committee on the Rights of the Child, Thirtieth session (May 2002). The Committee considered the initial report of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (CRC/C/28/Add.18 and adopted the following concluding observations.

• The Committee recommends that the State party:
  (a) Increase its efforts to promote adolescent health, including mental health, policies, particularly with respect to reproductive health and substance abuse and health education in schools, ensuring the full participation of adolescents;
  (b) Consider means of reducing teenage pregnancy, including strengthening reproductive health education for adolescents, and ensure the provision of full health and counselling support for pregnant girls and that these girls are able to continue their formal education.

Persons with Disabilities

Committee on the Rights of the Child, Thirtieth session (May 2002). The Committee considered the initial report of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (CRC/C/28/Add.18 and adopted the following concluding observations.

In the context of the Committee’s comments under section 3 of these concluding observations, and taking note of the United Nations Guidelines on Disabilities and the results of the Committee’s day of general discussion on the rights of children with disabilities (6 October 1997), the Committee recommends that the State party:

1. Conduct a survey to identify the exact number of children with disabilities, including children who stay at home, and the causes of, and ways to prevent, disabilities in children;
2. Ensure the integration within the State party’s child rights policy of the rights of children with disabilities with regard to, inter alia, non-discrimination, participation, survival and development, health, education (including vocational education for future employment) and integration into society;
3. Ensure access for children with disabilities to public transportation and public buildings, including all schools and hospitals;
4. Train additional teachers to teach and counsel children with disabilities;
5. Strengthen the assistance, including financial assistance and counselling, provided to the families of children with disabilities;
6. Seek international cooperation from, inter alia, UNICEF, in this regard.