Barbados - Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention: Second periodic reports of States parties due in 1997 [2015] UNCRCSPR 16; CRC/C/BAR/2-5 (4 May 2015)

	Home \| Databases \| WorldLII \| Search \| Feedback United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child - States Parties Reports

Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention

A. Review of existing legislation by the National Committee on the Rights of the
Child for the harmonization of domestic law with the Convention 11–14 10

B. Coordination of government activities for the implementation of the Convention 15–20 11

F. Measures to avoid the adverse effects of economic restructuring
measures on children 25–26 14

G. Education and training on the Convention for all groups of professionals working
for and with children: dissemination of the Convention 27–28 15

B. The use of flogging of children as a disciplinary measure in prisons and
as a judicial sentence 54 23

B. Children deprived of their family environment, foster care and periodic
review of placement 80–87 29

Table 3. Persons registered at the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre, 2005– 2010

Table 6. Males 0–19 with disability/major impairment by age group and type of disability/major impairment

Table 7. Females 0–19 with disability/major impairment by age group and type of disability/major impairment

Table 21. Percentage of adults and children with advanced HIV infection receiving antiretroviral therapy

Table 22. Budgetary allocations for the Child Care Board and the Welfare Department

Table 31. GIS committed residents as at 16 May 2011, disaggregated by type of crime committed

1. The Government of Barbados considers the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as one of the most important international agreements in its toolkit for addressing social ills and enhancing the rights and social protection of its citizens. It believes that the implementation of the Convention can be used as a measure of the progress being made towards the goal of improving the quality of life of its people and achieving “developed country status”.

2. Article 44, paragraph 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires States Parties to submit to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention. Barbados, having ratified the Convention on 9th October 1990, agreed to do so: (a) within two (2) years of the entry into force of the Convention; and (b) thereafter every five (5) years. The Government of Barbados commits itself to do all in its powers to ensure that the child is .... “fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity” (CRC Preamble, p. 1).

3. A progressive nation should be measured by the protection and opportunities it offers to all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable members of society. Vulnerability can be defined in terms of susceptibility to being wounded physically or emotionally, or the state of having little or no control over circumstances, which may result in the person experiencing harm or deprivation.^[1]More specifically, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) defines vulnerability in terms of being “at heightened risk that one or more of their human rights may be violated.”^[2] The Convention on the Rights of the Child seeks to significantly mitigate these risks by clearly articulating the whole range of rights and freedoms necessary to ensure that childhood is given the special care and assistance it deserves. It stipulates that every child is entitled to these rights regardless of “race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”^[3]Implicit in the Articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is an awareness that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. Social cohesion is therefore best guaranteed by extending to an increasing number of people in a given jurisdiction the range of rights generally accepted as human rights.

4. The Government of Barbados submitted its first Report in 1995, followed by a Supplementary Report in March 1999, which provided information covering the period up to June 1997. No report was submitted in 2002 and since then the completion and submission of new reports was hampered by the restructuring and reassignment processes of the Government Ministries responsible for the preparation of the report. For example, the Ministry of Social Transformation which previously had responsibility for the preparation of the report was replaced in 2008 with the establishment of the Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth which now has responsibility for reporting on Barbados’ compliance with the CRC.^[4] The Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development^[5] was also created in 2008 with responsibilities for some areas previously handled by the Ministry of Social Transformation. This report will, to the extent that data is available, cover the reporting period up to 2011. It specifically details what has been done with respect to various concerns and issues raised by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), as well as other developments pertinent to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This report benefited significantly from a process of professional and public consultation, and widespread discussion with a range of stakeholders.

5. Barbadian society is unique in at least two respects. First it was the locus for the introduction and development of the Plantation System of slavery in the “New World”. Once perfected, this “total institution” was exported to North and South America. Secondly, it was subjected to the longest period of unbroken rule by an imperial power that consciously set out to enslave its black possessions and colonial subjects not only physically but also psychologically. How successful these projects were in the New World African Diaspora, is the subject of considerable debate among scholars.^[6] Thus whatever progress Barbados has achieved during its long struggle for freedom and in the decades since gaining Independence in November 1966, should be considered against the backdrop of centuries of non-freedom and the psychological, social, political, economic and cultural legacies of slavery.

6. According to the 2000 Census, Barbados’ total population was approximately 268,792 persons, with 129,241 (48%) males and 139,551 (52%) females. Table 1 below shows the population breakdown by age and sex under age 18.

		Sex	*Total*
Male	Female
Age Groups of Persons less than 18 years	Under 3 Years	5 431	5 149	10 580
3 to 5 years	5 160	5 059	10 219
6 to 11 years	11 586	11 278	22 864
12 to 17 years	11 439	11 212	22 651
Total		33 616	32 698	66 314

7. The United Nations Human Development Report for 2006 ranked Barbados number 31 out of a total of 177 listed member countries but in 2011 Barbados ranked number 47, but still within the group of countries characterized as having “very high human development”.^[7] Public expenditure on education was 6.8% of GDP in 2009 and total expenditure on health for 2009 was 6.8% of GDP. Literacy rates remain around 99.4% for adults and 99.8% for youth ages 15 to 24. Indicators of health status (based on the 2000 census data) show that life expectancy at birth was 72.9 years for men and 77.4 years for women.^[8]Estimated life expectancy at birth in 2011 was 76.8 years.

8. Barbados’ economy has over the last four decades shifted from a reliance on agriculture to the provision of various services related to for example tourism, business, finance and general services, as well as some degree of manufacturing. Throughout 2011 and into 2012 the Barbadian economy remained relatively stable in spite of the international financial crisis and economic uncertainty. However, the international recession dried up business cash flow and reduced profitability, and this led to job losses. The sectors most seriously affected included manufacturing and small business. The unemployment rate for 2011 was around 12% up from around 10.8% in 2010. The persistent high oil and commodity prices continued to drive up inflation which reached 8.7% in October 2011.^[9]The government’s immediate policy priority thus has been maintaining the stability of the economy even though economic growth has been slow and remained around 0.5% down from 4% in 2005. Table 27 in the annex provides data on Barbados’ key economic indicators for the period 2005–2011.

9. Both of the major Political Parties of Barbados have repeatedly declared, in their Manifestos and other expressions of political will, an enduring commitment to extending to all Barbadians the freedoms, rights and privileges of a “first world society.” Despite these declarations and expressed commitments the reality is that political will is often constrained by economic circumstances including the current global financial crisis. Thus while significant progress has been made in the development and implementation of policies and legislative frameworks to protect and enhance the rights of children the government of Barbados recognizes that this is an ongoing process, and therefore remains committed to doing more to further the protection of children’s rights as a major priority.

10. Barbados is a constitutional monarchy which has a parliamentary system of democracy derived from the British Westminster system of government. Barbados has not entered any reservations to the CRC and the process of incorporating the Convention into domestic law through national legislation has been ongoing for some time.^[10]Yet there remains need for an extensive and systematic review and evaluation to determine the extent to which progress has been made, and what other reforms are required to achieve full compliance.^[11] However, the following pieces of legislation have been enacted and collectively provide the main framework for the protection of the rights of the child in Barbados:

(l) The Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act, 1971 (revised edition) Chapter 145;

(m) The Reformatory and Industrial Schools Act, 1971 (revised edition) Chapter 169;

(x) The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council Act 1993, Chapter 43 (No.11);

A. Review of existing legislation by the National Committee on the Rights of the Child for the harmonization of domestic law with the Convention

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 8 of the concluding observations on the initial report of Barbados (CRC/C/15/Add.103)

11. The Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child was established in September 1998 and has met periodically since that date. Its mandate is to examine the CRC and present recommendations to the government for the improvement of child rights. This Committee is made up of 10 members including representatives from government, NGOs, youth, the disabled, social services and the media. The Committee held several town hall meetings and fully utilised the expertise of its members in coming up with recommendations made to the government. The Committee does not presently have a budget and members participate voluntarily. Recently it has almost exclusively focused on encouraging Ministries involved in the CRC reporting process to submit recent and updated relevant information to the Child Care Board, to be included in the Second State Report. The Committee has a certain level of authority in public education matters and has been advocating in favour of a Child’s Act to harmonize all legislation regarding children. There is however, a need for the Committee to be further strengthened and resourced so that it can perform its duties in a more strategic, effective and efficient manner.

12. Various areas of the laws of Barbados which directly impact children are currently under review but the following are some of the laws that have been amended to better protect the rights of children, viz:

(i) Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Chapter 346, Amendment 2001-5: “For the purpose of this Act ‘child’ means a person who has not attained the age of 16 years”;

(ii) Family Law Act, Chapter 214, Amendments 2004-10: “The Family Council shall consist of the following: (1d) such other persons not exceeding 9 as the Attorney General may appoint; and (4) Seven Members form a quorum”;

(iii) Juvenile Offenders, Chapter 138, Amendment 1998-50: “Section 8 and 9 shall not render punishable any child who is not, in the opinion of the court, above the age of 11 years and of sufficient capacity to commit crime”;

(iv) Juvenile Offenders, Chapter 138, Amendment 1994-18: “Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, where a child or young person is convicted of an attempt to murder or of manslaughter or of wounding with intent to do serious bodily harm, the court may sentence the offender to be detained for such period as may be specified in the sentence”;

(v) Offences Against the Person Act, Chapter 141, 1994-18: New legislation on Infanticide (Section 14); Exposing children, whereby life is endangered (Section 21); Kidnapping (Section 30); Child stealing (Section 35); Abortion and Concealment of birth (Sections 37 to 41);

(viii) Reformatory and Industrial Schools Act, Chapter 169, 1998-15: “The Minister shall appoint an Advisory Board, in this Act referred to as the ‘Board’” – Section 49 (1);

(ix) Reformatory and Industrial Schools Act, Chapter 169, 1998-15: The functions of the Board (Section 50 (1, 2 and 3));

“The Minister shall, when and so often as is necessary, make rules and regulations for all or any of the following purposes ...

(d) Maintaining proper conduct, standards of discipline and safety with respect to children sent to the Schools.”;

(xi) Reformatory and Industrial Schools Act, Chapter 169, 1998-15: Constitution of the Board.

13. Additionally, the Child Care Board continues to advocate and request that the legislation be further reviewed to enhance the quality of life of children in Barbados, viz:

(a) In October 2001 changes were requested in the Adoption Act, the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act, the Child Care Board Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Protection of Children Act, the Prevention of Cruelty Act, and the Evidence Act;

(b) In February 2003 changes were requested in the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act, the Child Care Board Act and the Adoption Act.

14. The Barbados National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child also made recommendations for a number of amendments to the legal system as it relates to children. The National Committee has also been advocating for the harmonization of legislation concerning children. The Committee has recommended the establishment of a National Policy on Children, and also recommended that a Standing Committee be established to monitor the rights of children. The various recommendations by the Child Care Board and the National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child have not been implemented as yet but are still under active review and consideration by the government of Barbados.

B. Coordination of government activities for the implementation of the Convention

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 9 of the concluding observations on the initial report

15. The Ministry of Social Transformation was established in January 1999 with the mandate of redefining Barbados’ social landscape and to secure a national grid that would provide for the rationalisation of the social welfare services. The Ministry’s mission was to contribute to the socio-economic development of Barbados and the empowerment of all members of society by fully utilising all available human, financial and technological resources, formulating evidence-based policy and implementing timely, effective, equitable and accessible social programmes and services. The key thrust of the Ministry of Social Transformation was to speed up the delivery of services to the groups and individuals seeking assistance by acting as the coordinating and regulatory body to the social welfare agencies. The Ministry’s functions included the following:

(a) To provide assistance to vulnerable groups such as the poor, children, the disabled and the elderly;

(c) To develop policies for Persons with Disabilities and provide referral services for the physically and mentally challenged;

(d) To promote foster care for the elderly and those living under assisted arrangements and respite care; and

(f) The Urban Development Commission (transferred to Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2005);

17. As noted, the Ministry of Social Transformation was replaced in 2008 with the establishment of the Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth. Coordination of the agencies that come under the Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth is facilitated through monthly meetings of all the Directors, which are attended by the Minister and other senior staff of the Ministry. The monthly meetings examine the progress made as well as challenges and problems being faced. Annual work plans are also prepared. Institutional strengthening of the former Ministry of Social Transformation occurred with the addition of a Bureau of Social Policy, Research and Planning in February 2007. The mission of this Bureau is to design and conduct research into the social situation of society, in order to develop policies and programmes with the aim of improving the quality of life of the population. Its objectives include:

(a) To formulate policies and programmes using a coordinated approach to ensure that government policies are streamlined, integrated and implemented in accordance with regional and international commitments;

(b) To undertake research to determine the social needs, review policies and to identify and formulate proposals/programmes to address the needs of the populace;

18. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern in its Concluding Observations that “The role that the Child Care Board plays in overall coordination of government activities dealing with children is not clear” (Para. 9). As noted in the Foreword of Barbados’ Initial Report, the Child Care Board is a Statutory Corporation established by the Child Care Board Act 1969, which was replaced in 1981 by a new Act, to make better provision for the care and protection of children. The Child Care Board is guided in its work by this legislation and its functions are specifically geared towards:

(a) The provision and maintenance of child care centres for children in need of care and protection;

19. Two other Acts, namely the Adoption Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act also make provision for areas of the Board’s work. Its work is also supported by the Child Care Board Regulations 1985.

20. There is cooperation between government and civil society in terms of co-ordinating policies and programmes relating to children and monitoring the implementation of the Convention. NGOs are represented on the National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child. The government also works very closely with and provides grants and annual subventions to NGOs dealing with children and parents such as Parent Education for Development in Barbados (PAREDOS), the Pinelands Creative Workshop, the Israel Lovell Foundation, the Business and Professional Women’s Club and the Men’s Educational Support Association (MESA).

21. An independent body to promote and protect the rights of the child has yet to be established. More research needs to be conducted on the role and function of such a desk as well as the practicality of the Committee’s recommendation to set up a specific desk for children within the existing Ombudsman’s office. It should be noted however that currently the Ombudsman through powers invested in the office under the Ombudsman Act, 1980 Chap 8A, does actively seek to ensure that key agencies like the Child Care Board function effectively in the best interest of the children they are charged with protecting.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 10 of the concluding observations on the initial report

22. With respect to these concerns, some steps have been taken with the establishment of the Bureau of Social Policy, Research and Planning, as discussed above. This Bureau has already begun to be productive in generating information for the harmonisation of legislation and policy. There are also various mechanisms through which data is gathered. These include:

(a) The National Population and Housing Census data which is collected by the Statistical Department every 10 years;

(b) Each Government department that deals with children or child-related matters is required to collect and record data on matters affecting children and to make them available in their annual reports;

(c) Various pieces of research on children in Barbados as well as other Caribbean countries have been conducted and reports generated over the period by a number of government ministries and departments in collaboration with other agencies such as the University of the West Indies and UNICEF.^[12]

23. More important however, since 2008 the Government of Barbados has been collaborating with UNICEF to develop mechanisms to improve data collection, disaggregation and dissemination focussing specifically on children. Staff at the National Statistical office in Barbados (and other Eastern Caribbean countries) have through a series of UNICEF sponsored Regional DevInfo^[13] and CensusInfo workshops, been trained to manage and disseminate data on children, and have developed online data bases for sharing data, and strategies for collecting and disaggregating data on children. Additionally, based on a data assessment exercise conducted in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean a decision was made by the Government of Barbados to work with UNICEF to implement the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) programme starting in 2011. These surveys collect and analyse data in order to fill data gaps for monitoring the situation of children and women.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 11 of the concluding observations on the initial report

24. The national budget does not have specific amounts allocated for social expenditures on children but allocations are given to various Ministries to carry out work related to children. Agencies such as the Welfare Department and the National Assistance Board act as safety nets to prevent families from falling into a state of destitution by providing assistance as required and necessary for the sustenance, growth and development of children. The Government’s budgetary provisions to the social services affecting children and their rights continued to increase in absolute terms over the reporting period. While there are no known mechanisms in place to ensure that competent authorities are guided by the best interests of the child in their budgetary decisions, the Government of Barbados has always accorded the highest priority to the well-being of children. Budgetary allocations across the social sectors, specifically in the areas of health, education and social welfare were maintained or increased during the period prior to the global financial crisis.

F. Measures to avoid the adverse effects of economic restructuring measures on children

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 12 of the concluding observations on the initial report

25. Efforts have been made to alleviate the conditions under which the poor exist by increasing the welfare provisions and ensuring that varied programmes are available. Some of the services which would have an impact on parents and therefore ultimately children include:

(b) Assistance-in-kind – clothing, food vouchers, spectacles, dentures, hearing aids and emergency relief;

(h) Reduced bus fares for school children on both public and private transportation;

26. There is considerable collaboration between government departments and international agencies in the area of children’s rights. These agencies include the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the NCH Action for Children. This collaboration takes place at various levels such as technical support, funding of projects and programmes, and research on children. In spite of the ongoing financial crisis the government of Barbados has sought to maintain, increase, and better target its support for key social services so as to mitigate the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable in the society, including children.

G. Education and training on the Convention for all groups of professionals working for and with children: dissemination of the Convention

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 13 of the concluding observations on the initial report

27. Both Governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the Child Care Board and PAREDOS, provide education and training for public officials and professional groups on the CRC. While this has been more limited and on an ad hoc basis with respect to the exposure and training of government officials, more robust efforts occur at the level of civil society and with respect to public education. There has been a sustained public education programme by UNICEF in collaboration with the government, through the mass media, which addresses many of the issues surrounding the rights of the child. For example in 2011, with the assistance of UNICEF, over 40 secondary school children who established the Barbados Adolescent Media Network, were trained in video production to create videos on aspects of child rights for broadcast on television and the internet. The Child Care Board also routinely raises issues about children’s rights and the CRC in its public education activities.

28. During Child Month information on the CRC is highlighted in the daily newspapers and other media. UNICEF also runs a series of television skits that are aired on the local television station dealing with the rights of children and the contents of the CRC. The Ministry of Education also distributes copies of the CRC to schools. Additionally, a major component of the Social Work degree at the University of the West Indies is Child Development. Social workers and probation officers usually undertake this type of degree training and Family Court and Juvenile Court Judges and Magistrates generally seek the guidance of these social service agencies and officers in their deliberations. Yet, it is recognized that there is need for greater coordination of the various initiatives alluded to above in order to promote children’s rights throughout the entire year in a more impactful manner. The involvement of a strengthened National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child is regarded as being crucial to this endeavour. Currently a broad based public sensitization campaign is taking place to raise the profile of the Committee, and explain the importance of the CRC and children’s issues.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 14 of the concluding observations on the initial report

29. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is clear on the definition of the child as “every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier”. Similarly for the Child Care Board “child” means a person under the age of 18 years (Child Care Board Act, Chapter 381). There have been two amendments in the definition of the child, as follows:

(i) Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Chapter 346, Amendment 2001-5: “For the purpose of this Act ‘child’ means a person who has not attained the age of 16 years”.

(ii) Juvenile Offenders, Chapter 138, Amendment 1998-50: “Section 8 and 9 shall not render punishable any child who is not, in the opinion of the court, above the age of 11 years and of sufficient capacity to commit crime”.

30. However, discrepancies remain in the legislation vis-à-vis the minimum age at which specific rights are legally recognized:

(b) Legal and Medical Counselling without Parental Consent (generally considered to be 16 years);

31. Barbados’ Initial Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (Para. 77) observed that “the most problematic age group falls between 16 years and 18 years. These young persons are legally still minors. Where the behaviour of such persons is delinquent, there is great difficulty in dealing with them. The Government should consider a halfway facility or residential centre to which such persons could be sent for training and discipline to prepare them better to fit into the society”.

32. As will be shown below, there exist mechanisms such as the Police Department’s Juvenile Liaison Scheme and the Probation Department for delinquent boys and girls. In addition to this, the National Youth Service of Barbados, initiative which benefited from extensive public consultation in 2006 and is now being finalized for implementation, makes provision for such a halfway facility.^[14] The National Youth Service concept paper recommended the establishment of a residential centre for children and young people aged 16 to 25 years with the capacity to re-socialize larger numbers of young people who would normally commit minor offences. A strong position was taken against punitive measures leaving the residential programme free to focus on preventive measures.

33. The mandate of every Government since 1951 has been that of increasing the opportunities for ordinary people to participate in the decision making process and empowering them to help themselves through education and training. The National Youth Forum was launched on July 4, 2010 with an aim to provide a structured mechanism that allowed young people to discuss youth issues and to make recommendations on how best to address these issues. This forum assisted in the development of the draft National Youth Policy. With the various focus groups discussions, which would have taken place in the context of the fundamental changes associated with globalization during the past two decades, nine interrelated issues were identified as being of major significance for the development of young people in Barbados in the near future. These were:

The draft policy was presented to the Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth on March 30, 2011 and was also distributed to other stakeholders for further comment.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 15 of the concluding observations on the initial report

34. The Barbados Constitution recognises and protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, including children and protects them from discrimination on the grounds of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour or creed. The Status of Children Reform Act 1979 specifically provides for the equal status of children whether born in or out of wedlock. The Barbados Government has guaranteed free education to its citizens and permanent residents. Children who are not citizens or permanent residents are required to attend school but have to pay for their education, whether they attend a government or a private school. The requirement is for these children to get student visas and then find a school with space to accommodate them. This visa is not issued unless the Ministry of Education informs the Immigration Department that school spaces are available, and there is a problem of a lack of places in government schools at the secondary level. In 2010 there were 237 non-national children in Barbados (120 males and 117 females) attending school.

35. Areas of discrimination with respect to children’s rights still exist. One study conducted in 2004 noted that although there has been law reform dealing with domestic violence and sexual offences and to protect children from exploitation by preventing the making of indecent photographs of them, the child protection regime remained inadequate. The study concluded that the Reformatory and Industrial Schools Act is an antiquated statute with a conception of children that is deeply antithetical to the CRC.^[15] Also discrimination still takes place with regard to applications for child maintenance, where marital status determines which court will handle the case. Moreover, only the child’s mother may apply for maintenance. Mothers of children born out of wedlock may apply for maintenance to the lower Magistrate’s Court. On the other hand, mothers of children born from parents legally married or in a union other than marriage may apply to the Supreme Court, which deals with Family law matters. There are sharp distinctions in the nature of proceedings in superior or inferior courts in Barbados, as well as compliance and enforcement of sentences. These discrepancies are illustrated by UNIFEM’s 2006 Child Support, Poverty and Gender Equality in the Caribbean Report. Some Magistrates have recommend the law should be amended so that anyone may apply to the high court, regardless of their sex and marital status.

36. Children with disabilities also experience some degree of discrimination. For example, despite support from various sources, they still have to pay for standard secondary education or go to special schools. However schools have begun to make the necessary physical and social changes to accommodate physically and visually impaired children. A Policy on Persons with Disabilities was laid in Parliament in August 2002 and action has been taken increasingly during the period under review to implement the necessary provisions (See Section VI of this report). Provisions have been made for some children with disabilities to take the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 16 of the concluding observations on the initial report

37. The Bureau of Gender Affairs (formerly the Bureau of Women’s Affairs) is the Government’s key focal point for the implementation and monitoring of policies and programmes pertaining to gender and development. The main functions of the Bureau include providing advice and direction to government agencies and non-governmental organizations on legislation and other policy matters affecting the status of women and men alike. Its functions further involve monitoring the impact of these policies, promoting the development of gender equity in areas such as public education, legislative reform and human resource development, and formulating a national policy on gender and development.

38. The Bureau regularly conducts workshops on such topics as gender and development and HIV/AIDS, as well as organizes activities to celebrate International Women’s Day. It also goes into schools to conduct workshops with children on issues such as gender and domestic violence. The work of the Bureau is also enabled and enhanced by The National Advisory Council on Gender, which was appointed in 2001. The functions of the advisory body include monitoring progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on the Status of Women, investigating complaints of discrimination against women and assisting in the implementation of a national plan on gender.

39. The issue of boys’ academic underachievement has generated a lot of discussion both in Barbados and the wider Caribbean since the 1980s. The current consensus in the Ministry is that there is no difference in the performance of girls and boys at 11 years of age. What differences emerge at the Secondary level are due to the fact that girls are still overcompensating for the historical denial of educational opportunities at this level. The Chief Education Officer, in an interview in August 2007, refuted the argument by drawing attention to two single sex schools, St. Leonard Boys’ School and Springer Memorial Girls’ Secondary School where the later academic performance is comparable to that of children who scored similar marks in the Common Entrance examination but went to mixed schools. Further, with regards to children who are at the lower level in terms of scores, both sexes are underperforming but the variation in academic achievement between boys and girls is greater at this end. As a result, the focus needs to be on the boys at the lower level and a number of variables need to be explored. These include social class differences; the socialisation of boys (as noted above) and the fact that boys tend to have more learning difficulties than girls. It is generally admitted that the disproportionate number of male students pursuing university education is cause for concern, and various organizations, including the University of the West Indies, are currently examining the matter with the intention of developing solutions.

40. Concerning the apparent high rate of girls who attempt suicide, Education officials have noted that suicide among girls in Barbados is generally not widespread. Nevertheless, various entities including the Ministry of Education and the Bureau for Gender Affairs have routinely undertaken various counselling and other initiatives to help both boys and girls deal with any problems and challenges which may potentially lead to suicide. All Secondary Schools have Guidance Counsellors who assist students in dealing with their problems and challenges. These Guidance Counsellors are specially trained. There is however a shortage of guidance counsellors in the system, particularly in the heavily populated schools.

41. The Student Services section of the Ministry of Education which was established in 1997, provides support to parents/guardians, teachers and Guidance Counsellors. It collaborates and consults with social service agencies to ensure that the behavioural, emotional, social and intellectual needs of children are met in a holistic way. Guidance Counsellors are placed in each secondary school. There is also a parental involvement aspect to the services offered by the Student Services section. Parent sessions, workshops and programmes are co-ordinated and conducted for parents to raise their level of awareness in helping their children with the challenges they face. Counselling and support are provided for individual students and their families. Support is also offered to principals and teachers to help them to meet the individualized needs of students. Consultations with other professionals are made when necessary. The Education Officer (Counselling) provides group therapy at the school level. Liaising and consulting with social service agencies is necessary in many of the cases. Workshops and seminars are offered to parents/guardians as part of the counselling services offered.

42. There is also a Social Worker who visits parents/guardians in their own home environment to obtain the kind of information that would be helpful to officers working with students who have been referred to the Department, case conferencing and psychological services.

43. The Ministry has also implemented a psychological assistance programme. The programme was allocated $70,000 in the financial period 2010 to 2011. Three consultant psychologists were engaged by the Ministry of Education to provide services under the Psychological Assistance Programme. Fifty (50) students were referred for psychological evaluations, however only thirty-five (35) students made themselves available for assessment. The assessments are at the cost of $1200 per student to the Ministry but there is no cost to parents whose children are referred to the Psychological Assistance Programme. Bds$42,000 was spent on assessments during the review period. Under the PAP Programme two Psychiatrists were also engaged. Ten (10) students are being seen under the programme for psychiatric care. Twenty-five cases (25) were referred for counselling but only twelve (12) persons took the opportunity to be assisted. Students are offered a maximum of eight sessions at the cost of $75 per hour.

44. The Ministry of Education also embarked on a tri-partite arrangement to provide counselling services to students in primary schools. Five counsellors provided through the programme were allocated to 19 primary schools. Officers of the Ministry monitored the provision of counselling services and worked collaboratively with the counsellors to manage the cases referred to them. Two hundred and forty three (243) students were seen by the counsellors in the period under review for counselling purposes.

45. The law recognises that the principle of the child’s best interest must be of paramount consideration. Courts and other agencies act in the best interests of the child in proceedings to determine the child’s future. The court has an inherent jurisdiction to act in the interests of the child by making a child a ward of the court. While parents have primary responsibility for ensuring that the best interests of their children are upheld, the state has the right to intervene in cases where it is believed that these best interests are not being upheld. This includes cases of abandonment, neglect, abuse or inability to meet the child’s basic needs.

46. The Welfare Department provides a variety of services to families and individuals who need assistance in coping with financial, personal and family problems. Its services are provided free of cost and may take the form of financial and material assistance, casework and counselling. The principle of the best interests of the child is reflected in policies, programmes and procedures relating to housing, transport and the environment. With regards to the Ministry of Transport and Works, these include seatbelt regulations for infants and children, the provision of transportation for all secondary school children and the provision of pedestrian crossings and signage in the area of schools. Traffic Wardens operate at all schools in heavy traffic areas to assist primary school children in crossing the road.

47. The Child Care Board is responsible for the care and protection of children. Children who are removed from their families in their best interests are placed in the Board’s residential care facilities. In addition, the Board receives and investigates cases of child abuse and maltreatment. One of the responsibilities of the Child Care Board is to ensure that both public and private institutions with responsibility for the care and protection of children adhere to established standards. The Child Care Board has clear guidelines for monitoring, recording and reviewing the quality of care provided for adopted children as well as those in foster homes and residential institutions. There is also provision for a review of those children in community placements. In addition, operators of day care centres must adhere to strict guidelines, contained in a document titled “Day Care Minimum Standards.” The Ministry of Education also has responsibility for ensuring that appropriate standards are maintained for both public and private schools. There is a Government Day Care Team that assists with supervising the centres, comprising two Social Workers, a Pre-school Operator and a representative of the Personnel Department. This team goes into both government and privately operated centres.

48. The lack of adequate staff to monitor the day care centres is one of the ongoing challenges in ensuring the consideration of the best interests of the child. There are also some compliance issues, primarily in relation to Town and Country Planning. These issues include commencing business without the necessary permission. The Board disseminates annual notices reminding operators of the need to comply with the stated regulations and minimum standards, and also undertakes monitoring and evaluation to ensure compliance with the standards.

49. The registration of deaths and their causes are mandatory and the five leading causes of death are recorded in the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Reports, and these are kept under constant review by the Ministry of Health. The legislation also makes limited mention of pro-life.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 17 of the concluding observations on the initial report

50. Barbados’ Initial Report Para. 85 indicated that there are several pieces of legislation dealing with a child’s right to express views freely on all matters affecting him or her. The Adoption Act requires the court to give consideration to the wishes of a minor old enough to understand the nature of the process. These wishes are taken into account but his/her age and maturity also have to be factored into the court’s decision. Further information on the child’s right to express his/her views in legal will be given in Part VIII.

51. Other measures have been undertaken to ensure that children exercise their right to express their views. For example, the Ministry of Education has made it mandatory for Student Councils to be established in all Secondary Schools. Many schools started to establish these councils in 2007 and they must meet with the School Boards at various points during the school year to share their ideas and opinions. The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development officially launched the Student Councils in April 2009. Through these Councils, young people will be given the opportunity develop leadership capacity and engage in self representation while creating a cadre of young people who are highly motivated, disciplined, positive in outlook and willing to provide a “voice” for the student body.

52. The Division of Youth Affairs periodically conducts and publishes surveys on young people, including school children, to ascertain their views on and experiences in relation to a number of issues such as sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, educational reform etc. Young people are also represented on the National Committee on Monitoring the Rights of the Child.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 18 of the concluding observations on the initial report

53. Many Barbadians still hold traditional views on the rights of children, preferring to make constant reference to the “responsibilities of children”. The Government, in collaboration with various agencies including UNICEF, has been undertaking regular public relations initiatives and media campaigns to ensure that children, parents and officials alike develop more informed and modern perspectives on the concept of child rights. Also, as noted previously, the National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child has been involved in public relations activities of a similar nature. The need for legislative measures to enhance this process is however still under consideration and review by the government.

B. The use of flogging of children as a disciplinary measure in prisons and as a judicial sentence

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 19 of the concluding observations on the initial report

54. Barbados has not ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Nevertheless, the issue of flogging in prisons has been the subject research and policy attention. A National Commission on Law and Order was set up 2002 “to assist the Government in achieving civil peace and harmony by promoting cultural renewal and social cohesion, thereby reducing crime and the fear of crime”. One of the issues examined by the Commission was corporal punishment in the home, at school and in prison. The Commission’s Report noted that while corporal punishment exists in homes and schools, it no longer exists in the courts or prison system. In 1992, in a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal “took the cat-o’-nine tails out of the punishment equation and wiped out flogging completely. The judgment held that the ‘cat’ had been outlawed since 1964 before Independence [1966] and the new Constitution. It regarded the use of the ‘cat’ as inhuman and degrading.”^{[16 ]}

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 20 of the concluding observations on the initial report

55. Family of whatever structure, ranging from the single parent unit to the extended family, is considered in custom and in law as the best institution for bringing up the child. The Family Law Act (sect. 40) addresses the matters of guardianship and custody of children both of a marriage and a “union”, defined as a relationship between a man and a woman, who are not married to each other but who have cohabited continuously for a period of five or more years. It is generally believed that the responsibilities of parents include the provision of guidance, instruction, leadership and discipline. Above all it is expected that parents would provide for the sustenance of the child. The maintenance of children is provided for under the Family Law Act (chap. 214) and the Maintenance Act (chap. 216). The maintenance of a child is critical for his/her development. In circumstances where a parent fails to meet his/her responsibility to maintain the child, there is legal redress for the custodial parent through the Family Law Rules (Rule 101).

56. Various Child Care Board annual reports (for example, 2007–2008 and 2008–2009) have pointed to the ongoing involvement of fathers in their children’s lives in the following ways:

However, also highlighted are those instances where mothers were the source of referrals and there were allegations that some fathers were not supportive while others were not returning the children to their mothers’ care.

57. The first Barbados Report stated that every effort is made to keep the child’s environment as stable, secure and nurturing as possible. When separating parties cannot agree on what is best for the children, the law provides for the following options: sole custody to either parent; joint custody with care and control vested in one parent and custody to someone other than the parent (See paras. 122–127).

58. At all times counselling and other assistance is made available to parents. In circumstances where assistance does not help families to fulfil their responsibilities and keep their children at home without risk to the children’s development, the Child Care Board is authorized to apply to the courts to have the parental rights and duties in relation to the child vested in the Board (Child Care Board Act, chap. 381, sect, 5 (4)). Such applications may be made in situations as the death of the parents, the abandonment of the child, and the disability or unfitness of the parents. The Child Care Board has expressed the following concerns with respect to custody and access cases:

(b) The reluctance of parents to go back to court to have breaches of rulings redressed;

(c) Police reluctance to intervene in situations where rulings were not adhered to although rulings were documented and proof provided; and

(d) The failure of some fathers to obtain custody of their children even though they have been proven to be capable of doing so (i.e. more competent than the mothers).

59. Notwithstanding the abovementioned expectations and provisions, it is a generally accepted phenomenon that all families may not be able to cope during crises. As a result, Government has recognized its responsibilities to render the appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities. In this regard, there are a number of governmental agencies which work in partnership to provide family assistance. These are:

61. The National Assistance Board provides assistance-in-kind for elderly and indigent persons who demonstrate their inability to satisfy certain needs on their own. Children in households headed by these categories of recipients naturally benefit from such assistance. The functions of this Board include:

62. The Welfare Department provides a variety of services to families and individuals who need assistance in coping with financial, personal and family problems. The Department’s aims include providing professional social work services geared towards the resolution of individual and family problems and empowering and rehabilitating the disadvantaged and persons affected by crises and natural disasters. Its services may take the form of financial and material assistance, casework and counselling. There is a Welfare Office in every parish to facilitate access to the services. The Department’s counselling services cover the following areas:

63. The Department is also responsible for administering other forms of assistance, including:

(b) Assistance-in-kind – clothing, food vouchers, spectacles, dentures, hearing aids and emergency relief;

64. Children under age 16 are generally the largest category of recipients of the National Assistance Grant. In 2004, some 3,349 children under 16 years received grants; 3,392 in 2005 and 3,347 in 2006, representing an average of 43% of the recipients over those three years. In the financial year 2009–10, the Educational Assistance Programme catered to 3335 children. The Welfare Department also disburses the Education Grant from the Ministry of Education for children entering secondary school for the first time.

65. The Probation Department assists families in custody and maintenance matters as well as provides counselling to parents and guardians when their children are in conflict with the law. The services provided by the Probation Department are rehabilitative and re-directive in focus. Its main objectives include:

(a) Ensuring that the community-based sentences and related orders imposed by the courts are administered in a safe, humane and effective manner;

(b) Assisting in the rehabilitation of offenders through effective supervision, programmes and other interventions, thereby protecting the public and reducing re-offending;

66. The Juvenile Liaison Scheme is administered by the Royal Barbados Police Force. It offers family counselling particularly where children may be in conflict with the law or may exhibit behavioural problems that may bring them into conflict with the law. It also offers supervision services for children at home and school as well as conducts public education programmes. The specific aims of the scheme include:

(b) Diverting juvenile offenders from the rigours and traumatic experiences of the criminal justice system;

(d) Offering voluntary supervision and counselling to juveniles admitted to the scheme.

67. In 2003–2004, for example, 248 juveniles were referred to the scheme but only 240, kept their appointments. One hundred and seventy-four (174) of those who kept their appointments were referred for various behavioural problems, 66 being of a criminal nature. One hundred and sixty-one (161) were males and 79 were females. The types of criminal offences committed by these juveniles referred to the Scheme included theft, assault, serious bodily harm, causing a disturbance, drugs, burglary, armed with an offensive weapon, wandering, loitering and threats.

68. The Community Development Department is rooted in the long established principle in Barbados that it takes a community to raise a child. As such, the Community Development Department is charged with shaping and building strong, vibrant and cohesive communities. It is also responsible for providing and maintaining adequate meeting facilities to accommodate community programmes; encouraging the development of community organisations to facilitate the implementation of community and national programmes, and carrying out community surveys to assess the needs of communities to better plan and implement programmes and projects for the general improvement of the community. One of its specific objectives is to mobilise individuals and groups within local communities to take an active role in planning and changing the physical and social fabric of their communities.

69. The Poverty Alleviation Reduction Programme falls under the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development. The Programme seeks to alleviate poverty through involvement at the community level by ensuring that individuals have access to resources and opportunities. It interfaces with the work of other government agencies, NGOs and the private sector for the benefit of the poor. Groups eligible for assistance include the unemployed, single-parent families, mentally and physically challenged individuals and non-contributory pensioners. They benefit from assistance such as the payment of arrears in utility bills, help with the acquisition of house spots, house repairs, and home help services for the physically and mentally challenged.

70. The Rural Development Commission began operations in 1996 with a general mandate of alleviating poverty in rural Barbados. Its functions are to facilitate road improvement and the lighting of streets in rural districts; provide housing and ancillary services including the installation of sanitary facilities in rural areas, and provide assistance to small farmers in the areas of agricultural training and investment, equipment and machinery, production and marketing of agricultural produce. It also allocates land under Government control to persons who want to farm and gives assistance for the establishment and development of cottage industries. It administers a number of funds, namely the Rural Enterprise Fund, the Livestock Development Fund and the Fruit Orchard Fund.

71. The Urban Development Commission was established in August 1997 with a mandate to fast-track the delivery of services to the Greater Bridgetown Area. The Commission, through its Urban Renewal Initiative, carries out a multi-faceted programme to eradicate poverty in the Greater Bridgetown Area (the City) through the initiatives in entrepreneurship, and the provision of social and infrastructural amenities in urban tenantries, and the development of healthy community life. The Commission operates an Urban Renewal Programme, which provides for:

(a) The execution of a programme of renewal of the physical environment of those city districts that have suffered the greatest degradation;

(b) The restoration of buildings of architectural interest as a means of both preserving the national heritage and providing jobs;

(d) The enforcement of landlords to obtain a certificate of habitation for the premises they wish to rent.

In addition, several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) give support and assistance to parents and families in crisis. These include the following.

72. Parent Education for Development in Barbados (PAREDOS) is one of the main organizations offering family life education and courses to schools and the general public. PAREDOS was launched in 1972 to inform and educate parents, guardians, children and at-risk groups in such areas as child development, child abuse and prevention, parenting skills, communication skills, problem solving skills and health issues. The organization is funded from grants, government subvention, voluntary contributions, fund-raising activities and membership drives. PAREDOS’ budget does not allow the employment staff on a permanent basis and therefore the organization relies almost exclusively on voluntary work. Its programmes are arranged at three levels and participation is free of charge:

(1) Parent Education and Support – this includes Early Intervention and Crises Intervention – counselling, guidance;

(2) Early Childhood Care and Support Programme – this includes a Day Care Centre and Pre-school.

73. PAREDOS has a number of educational strategies to ensure that information that would be useful to parents and children is disseminated widely. These include a weekly radio programme, regular appearance on television programmes, weekly newspaper articles (Parent Wise), the production of educational materials and community-initiated lectures and discussions. It has also run weekly Anger Management and Character Building programmes at primary schools with teachers, children and parents. Other activities include an Adolescent Development Programme in secondary schools; clinic-based programmes with parents at the ante-natal clinics of the polyclinics; in-house parent sessions – group or individual, upon referral of the Child Care Board, and a Crisis Intervention Programme and Early Intervention Training Programme.

74. Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPWC). The mission of this organization is to promote world-wide friendship, co-operation and understanding between business and professional women and to assist local business and professional women in using their combined abilities and strengths for attaining high standards of service. Its programmes include a Telephone Crisis Hotline, offering counselling and support services to victims of abuse and a Shelter for Battered Women and their children. The shelter offers the services of trained psychological and physiological counsellors to victims of domestic violence.

75. Men’s Educational Support Association (MESA), which began in May 2000, is a social organization dedicated to excellence in manhood, “the making of good men” and building stronger families. MESA has been generating and facilitating much heated public debate on a wide range of issues affecting men in Barbados such as decriminalizing homosexuality, domestic violence, children’s responsibilities, and the rights of fathers.

76. Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) provides services in a number of areas including contraceptive services, Family Life Education and peer counselling, pregnancy and Pap smear tests, routine medical examinations, total quality care for men’s health and counselling on infertility.

77. The Parent Education and Support Programme – Positive Parenting Skills Seminars offered by the Division of Family, MFCSY

This programme commenced in 2009 and is intended to give parents and prospective parents the confidence to comfortably raise their children. The programme aims to offer through training, the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes which would empower interested persons to become more effective parents. Time is given for the participants to unlearn many of the negative emotions and behaviours, for example:

Time is allocated for the participants to learn and utilize the positive emotions and behaviours:

This is offered as a sixteen week Training of Trainers where the Division of Family works with other stakeholders in Civil Society to identify prospective Parent Facilitators to be trained to go into communities and disseminate Positive Parenting Skills seminars. Additionally the Division of Family responds to request from various community organizations to deliver Parenting seminars.

This programme was launched by the Division of Family on October 31, 2011. It targets at risk, unattached, disengaged youth between the ages of 16 years to 24 years and provides them with the necessary psycho-social support, life and work skills. The programme is conducted for a period of five months and includes:

79. Each young person is assigned to a trained counsellor to discuss and resolve any issues to ensure that they can be as effective in the workplace and in his/her family unit. At the end of the 3 month Job Attachment, employers are to inform the Division if they will retain the services of the participant as a full time employee. In the pilot programme which ended on March 31, 2012, out of the 30 young persons who participated, 21 graduated, 14 were offered long term employment; 2 are participating in the YES training to become entrepreneurs and 1 has secured a place at the Barbados Community College to pursue an Associate degree.

B. Children deprived of their family environment, foster care and periodic review of placement

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 21 of the concluding observations on the initial report

80. As shown in the first Barbados Report (para. 137), when it is no longer possible or wise to keep a child in his/her family environment, every effort is made to place such children in a “family-type” environment. The family-type environment, in this regard, means a foster placement or the child may be permitted to live with another family member or a family friend. The foster care system was formalized through the Child Care Board Act 1981 (chap. 381) with the objective of meeting the short-term (under 6 months) and long-term needs of children. A stipend of one hundred dollars ($100) per week is allocated per child in foster care. Some measure of permanency is encouraged in foster care placement and foster parents may be approached about their willingness to adopt the children in their care.

81. However, certain challenges remain. There is for example the difficulty of recruiting foster parents for short-term and emergency placements as well as for children with a disability and those over the age of 10 years. The Child Care Board is therefore intensifying its promotion and training programmes for staff and prospective foster parents, always ensuring that the welfare of the child, respect for the child’s views and the ability of the foster parent to provide a safe and caring family life are given the highest priority. There are occasions however when placement is not available. In such instances, the child is placed in a residential centre, commonly referred to as a children’s home. These are under the authority of the Child Care Board.

82. The objective of the Board’s child care programme is to ensure that any child who is in need of care and protection is taken to homes in which there exist affection and personal interest. There are currently 9 Children’s Homes/centres operated by the Child Care Board, catering to the needs of 92 children at the time of the preparation of this report. Two of the original 11 were closed in 2000. These centres cater to the development of children ranging from weeks old to those over the age of majority. The latter are persons who are disabled but the facilities for these are limited. Every effort is made to structure these homes as small informally run units to reinforce the family nature of the centres.

83. Restructuring of the Children’s Homes took place in the 1990s. A system of stratification was introduced where children of similar ages were housed together as follows:

The exceptions are family members since efforts are always made to keep them in the same centre. There are 3 large and 6 smaller homes. One of the large homes has been reconfigured to address the needs of the children – there are different rooms instead of dormitories. Some residents have their own rooms while others share with 1–3 persons.

84. There is an After Care Programme in place with 3 transitional cottages, where residents of the homes can live when they reach 18 years of age. Two persons can share a cottage and reside there for one year. They are also given money to purchase groceries. The provision of such a facility enables them to accumulate savings so that they can become independent.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child was concerned that the efforts to provide permanence and stability for children in care may on occasion lead to a premature decision that family reunification is no longer possible. It encouraged the State party to continue its efforts to strengthen the foster care system as well as conduct further research into the functioning of the existing system.

85. These concerns are being addressed in that the Child Care Board engages parents and the extended family members through counselling (social work and psychological) and parenting classes, to ensure that any decision made with respect to long term foster care would be in the best interest of the children. Family reunification whenever it is in the best interest of children is the first intervention strategy utilised with children who for whatever reason are placed in residential care and permanency planning is being considered.

86. The Adoption Act vests the authority for organizing procedures in adoption in the Child Care Board. The Adoption Act ensures that an adoption order can be made only by a court and that both birth parents must consent to the adoption. However, provision is made for instances where parental consent is unobtainable or withheld for reasons that are not in the best interest of children.

87. For the year ending December 31st, 2011, there were 87 children (51 males/36 females) in residential care and 5 being monitored in the community for reintegration with family members/guardians. 57 children were admitted and 44 children were discharged from residential care.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 22 of the concluding observations on the initial report

88. As noted earlier, a National Commission on Law and Order established in 2002 examined the issue of corporal punishment, including in the family and schools. One of the strategies used by the Commission was public discussion. It also examined the United Nations Committee’s observations and concluded that “the prevailing view is not consistent with the dictates of [the UN] Convention on the Rights of the Child, and may pose a problem for the Government to endorse.”^[18]The report further stated that: “The fact that Barbados continues to use corporal punishment in school and not to outlaw it in the home is partly due to the strong cultural attitude in favour of corporal punishment. The matter is no longer seen as even debatable.”

89. The Commission acknowledged an increase in the number of reported cases of child abuse. However, it argued that no nexus had been established between these increases and the fact that corporal punishment had not been curtailed in Barbadian homes. The Commission noted that there has been a voluntary relaxation of corporal punishment by younger parents at the same time as the increases in reported cases of abuse. The Commission did not agree that the issue of corporal punishment in the home should be subject to legislative or administrative control but to constant review by the National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child. It also concluded that parents should be sensitised about the over-use of corporal punishment and the repetition of corporal punishment because it is instantaneous and to warn them strongly against injury through punishment of children in the home. A number of government education and family related agencies have also been actively involved in sensitizing parents about alternative forms of discipline.

90. The Principals of secondary schools have the duty of ensuring that discipline is maintained throughout the school at all times. Corporal punishment may be administered in schools as part of the disciplinary procedure. However, such force must be no more than is “reasonably necessary” in all circumstances. The Commission for Law and Order also looked at the issue of corporal punishment in schools. The Commission noted that the present regulations in the Education Act offer an “almost open-ended approach” to corporal punishment. The Act states that:

“Every head teacher in public schools shall administer corporal punishment when necessary and delegate to the deputy head teacher and senior teachers, where applicable, the authority to administer corporal punishment.”

91. The Commission suggested that there was a feeling in Barbadian society that this approach is inadequate and should be replaced a full return to the old-time system of corporal punishment being administered by all teachers in the school system. This is in response to the observed deterioration in the conduct of schoolchildren. The Commission concluded “corporal punishment should remain in the school system but that teachers must be encouraged to recognize the value of communicating their expectation and to reason with their charges as part of the process of developing healthy and beneficial relationships”. It did not support the view that all teachers should be given the authority to whip children since this could afford them the opportunity of expressing their prejudices and opens the opportunity for abusing power. The recommendation was that the Education Act should be revised to take into consideration the creation of two areas for punishment in schools, namely statutory offences and offences that are non-statutory and non-work related. Corporal punishment would apply to the latter.

92. Punishment in schools in Barbados is monitored using the following procedure. Punishments are logged in an official record book and are monitored by the Education Officers in School Supervision and Management. The record includes offences, the circumstances under which the offences occurred and the punishment meted out. Suspensions are reported to the Chief Education Officer through the Education Officers and the copies of the Board of Management Minutes. Official reports must be submitted to the Ministry. Categories of children who might be excluded from school temporarily are those with emotional behaviour disorders that affect the learning or physical safety of others and those who are not toilet trained. Those who are excluded permanently are those with severe physical health conditions that render them immobile, for example spina bifida. There are approximately 40 children who fit into the latter category.

93. Children who are suspended or at risk of being expelled from school can be sent to The Edna Nicholls Centre. This centre was established in November 1998 and started taking students in May 1999. It provides a therapeutic environment that would address the various forms of unacceptable behaviour of students. This Out-of-School programme lasts two weeks and aims at providing a range of counselling services for students and parents. It also offers an appropriate learning programme to modify their behaviour and their learning habits out of their regular school environment with a view to their re-entering school at the end of their rehabilitation programme. There were approximately 184 students who were referred to the Centre during the period 2003/2004 and 172 in 2010/2011. Of these, 120 were boys and 52 were girls.

94. The government of Barbados has been faced with significant and prolonged difficulty in changing the public’s attitude towards corporal punishment. Nevertheless it has continued with the support of UNICEF to develop counselling, public relations and other programmes designed to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of corporal punishment in homes and schools. One such initiative is The Schools Positive Behaviour Management Programme which aims at transforming classroom culture through the use of alternative practices to test alternatives to corporal punishment for effective classroom discipline. It is being carried out in partnership with: UNICEF; the Ministry of Education, the Child Care Board, the Barbados Union of Teachers, the Caribbean Union of Teachers, the University of the West Indies, and the Barbados Children’s Trust. The initiative is based on the principles of child-centredness, democratic participation, and inclusiveness, and seeks to transform the traditional teaching and learning environment into one that is healthy, safe and protective while promoting positive features such as:

(d) Strong links and mechanisms of cooperation between parents, teachers, school administrators and communities.

95. The programme was first piloted at Hillaby/Turner’s Hall Primary school commencing in September 2007 and has since been expanded to include nineteen public primary schools, one private primary school, and one secondary school. Training seminars were held for principals and team leaders of the various schools. These various initiatives have already begun to produce some changes in public attitudes within the society. In 2009 a follow up national survey of corporal punishment was conducted in Barbados on behalf of the Barbados Union of Teachers and UNICEF.^[19] The survey found that public support for corporal punishment in schools had declined from 69% in 2004 to 54% in 2009. 74% of school children opposed corporal punishment in 2009 compared to 56% in 2004. Public support for corporal punishment in the home however remained strong. In 2009 75% of the respondents supported corporal punishment in homes reflecting a small decline from 80% in 2004. There was however a decline among school children from 76% in 2004 to 54% in 2009. The survey revealed that opposition to corporal punishment was influenced by age, gender and educational attainment. There tended to be greater support for corporal punishment among older persons (51 years and over) and persons who had only attained primary and secondary education.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 23 of the concluding observations on the initial report

96. The Barbados’ Initial Report (Para. 167) reported that the Child Care Board, as the administrative body responsible for the care and protection of children, established a specialised Child Abuse Programme in 1981. In this programme, a Social Worker is assigned specific responsibilities to formalise policy and management techniques for the programme (Para. 168). The report also identified the following pieces of legislation as one of the means of combating child abuse and neglect:

(a) The Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act (chap. 145, sect. 5) amended in 1981-36;

97. When cases of suspected child abuse are reported to the Child Care Board and the Board upon investigation finds the child at risk in the present environment, the Board may remove the child to a place of safety, such as one of the Child Care Board’s children’s homes. Throughout the investigation, the child is counselled. Children may be referred to a psychologist if the need arises.

98. The Barbados National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child in its Report of July 2006 recommended that: “It should be mandatory for all cases of abuse involving children ... to be reported to the appropriate authorities”. This proviso was also reflected in the then ruling Barbados Labour Party’s Manifesto and, in this connection, a committee was set up to examine the issue. To date, no changes have been made, but the matter remains under active consideration by the current government of Barbados.

99. Much attention has however been paid to the systematic implementation of awareness campaigns to sensitize the public about the harmful effects of child abuse. The Child Care Board has been running a major education and training programme to enlighten staff, parents and the public about the dangers to which children are exposed and the penalties for violating the law. Since 1981 the Board has also been running a specialized Child Abuse Programme with the mandate to formalize policy and management techniques to combat child abuse. As a result, a register is established of persons considered to be at risk. Intervention has also been made in the school system. Hence, workshops and seminars have been conducted to assist teachers and Guidance Counsellors in the detection and reporting of child abuse. For example in 2005/2006 the Child Care Board conducted a series of 6 weeks Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Programme in Primary Schools, aimed at keeping children safe from abuse and equipping them with necessary information that would assist them should they become victims of abuse. By the end of 2006, some 2,690 children from 61 schools had participated in the programme.

100. PAREDOS also offers guidance and support to “at risk” families referred to them by the Magistrates Court, the Probation Department, the Child Care Board, schools, health clinics and churches. Parents are advised on alternative ways of disciplining children and are given practical tips to use at home. PAREDOS’ 2007-08 report mentions the positive feedback from parents who attended its seminars (350 families in 2007 and 150 in 2008). However, the organization is currently unable to cater to the high demand for its services due to limited resources and its heavy reliance on voluntary work.

Year	Physical abuse	Sexual abuse	Neglect	Emotional	Abandonment	*Total*
1996–1997	218	181	473	78	1	951
1997–1998	278	185	606	63	0	1 132
1998–1999	304	282	477	45	5	1113
1999–2000	241	264	491	69	1	1 066
2000–2001	213	204	405	72	12	906
2001–2002	270	186	611	75	1	1 143
2002–2003	249	232	713	112	10	1 316
2003–2004	304	231	718	131	6	1 390
2004–2005	266	190	565	93	10	1 124
2005–2006	277	226	481	92	0	1 076
2006–2007	225	259	498	122	1	1 105
2007–2008	273	268	633	103	1	1 279
2008–2009	247	166	633	62	3	1 091
2009–2010	268	225	617	137	4	1 251
2010–2011	224	165	690	106	2	1 187

101. The campaign against child abuse was significantly strengthened when in 2009 UNICEF and the governments of the Eastern Caribbean (including Barbados) undertook an extensive study of child abuse in the region.^{[20 ]}The study found that child abuse was extensive and widespread in the region. Based on the findings and recommendations UNICEF and the governments initiated several public relations and training initiatives to sensitize the public about child abuse. The report itself also generated much public debate about child abuse throughout the Caribbean.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 24 of the concluding observations on the initial report

102. The total number of disabled children in Barbados was 2,216 according to the last Population and Housing Census, 2000. Government remains committed to disabled children receiving the special care, education and training that would enable them to enjoy a full and decent life. A Policy on persons with disabilities was laid in Parliament in August 2002. Prior to this, it was circulated as a Green Paper to all the stakeholders for their comments and suggestions. The policy document recognises that, under the Constitution of Barbados, every citizen shares the same human, civil, political, social and cultural rights. Persons with disabilities should have access to health, education, supportive environments, income security, communication and recreational opportunities, thereby empowering them to reach their maximum potential and become valuable productive citizens in an integrated society.

103. The policy objectives relating to persons with disabilities are as follows:

(a) To create supportive environments which will favour the integration and participation in society of all persons with disabilities, their families and care givers;

(b) To ensure equal opportunities in all areas of development of the lives of persons with disabilities that would enhance the quality of their lives in order that each person would reach his/her maximum potential. Such equalisation of opportunities should help to eliminate marginalisation and discrimination;

(c) To empower persons with disabilities and their organisations to become involved in the socio-economic development of the country;

(d) To provide a framework for the planning of programmes, services and activities for both physically and mentally challenged persons;

(e) To encourage and support ongoing research in all areas of disabilities that impact upon the lives of persons with disabilities.

104. The National Disabilities Unit, has responsibility for developing policies and programmes relating to persons with disabilities. The National Disabilities Unit was established by government in December 1997 to assist with the development of policies and programmes that would empower and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The Unit is mandated to, among other things, maintain a register of persons with disabilities, seek to get persons with disabilities fully integrated into the society and undertake social work intervention on issues affecting the disabled and their relatives.

105. Barbados has been implementing a policy of inclusion of persons with disabilities for many years. Efforts have been made to get persons with disabilities to participate in the mainstream social institutions such as education and employment. This is a direct response to the clearly expressed needs of persons with disabilities as communicated by the Chairman of the Barbados Council for the Disabled^{[21 ]}in July 2007. During the interview the Chairman emphasized that persons with disabilities did not want sympathy or handouts but education and training to earn a living and make a contribution to their community. When Barbados signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, it gave a commitment to the integration of persons with disabilities into all areas of community life. In particular, Article 27 of the Convention calls on all states and parties to provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to earn enough money to survive and prosper in a cash economy.

106. In the area of Education, the Government has committed itself through the policy document to the following:

1. The amendment of the Education Act to ensure that Persons with Disabilities have access to quality education at all levels of the education system;

2. To undertake measures to ensure that Persons with Disabilities are included in the mainstream school setting;

3. The placement of learning-support coordinators in schools to assess children referred by classroom teachers to determine intervention programmes to meet the individual special needs of children.

107. The Government has also committed itself to ensuring that children with disabilities receive educational instruction appropriate to their needs. There are four special education schools, two of which are private and eight special education units that form part of a larger primary school providing education for children who are mentally challenged. The units of the primary schools are all administered, staffed and financed by the government. Students with special needs may also remain in regular classrooms and be given the necessary support with an I.E.P (Individual Educational Plan). The I.E.P. assists the teachers with meeting the needs of the students. In some cases, children are integrated into mainstream activities along with the general school in the afternoon. Placements in one of the special schools or special education units are facilitated through the Student Services Section of the Ministry of Education. Referrals can also be made by principals, parents, doctors and psychologists or from the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre. Tables 3 and 4 below provide information on the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre which is the primary health institution that works with children with disabilities.

Persons registered at the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre, 2005–2010

108. All new facilities and refurbished ones are being made accessible to persons with disabilities. In 2000, the Government embarked on a seven (7) year programme to upgrade the physical environment in schools. This programme provides for improvements such as ramps and wider bathrooms. All new schools built since 2000 have these provisions while other schools are being upgraded. The Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD), in collaboration with the Barbados Tourism Authority launched a far reaching initiative to create a Fully Accessible Barbados. The Council in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the private sector have started a project designated Accessible School Makeover to provide children with disabilities in selected schools with physical facilities, curriculum materials and appropriate technologies to facilitate their learning. Various recreational opportunities are made available to children with disabilities. For example, the National Disabilities Unit organises an Annual Integrated Summer Camp that integrates children with disabilities with other children. A week of orientation is held for counsellors prior to the commencement of the camp.

109. The following table (5) shows the increasing number of children with disabilities educated in Special Education Units.

110. Special Units are being established in mainstream schools, and placement officers have been put in some schools. In 2002 a Special Unit was opened at the St. Stephen’s Primary School modelled after the All Saints Primary School and catering to children with special needs. The children in the Special Units established in mainstream schools are integrated into mainstream activities along with the general school in the afternoon. In 2003, the National Disabilities Unit, the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre and the University of the West Indies collaborated to provide a six-week Behaviour Modification Programme for 12 boys with mental challenges. A variety of training methods were used including role-play, artwork, physical activity and musical exposure. The Barbados Council for the Disabled has recommended that these programmes specifically target adolescents with disabilities to help them to become self-employed entrepreneurs and be able to find “decent work”.

111. The Ministry of Health has responsibility for co-ordinating medical services for disabled children and is presently giving more emphasis to inclusive medical services while recognising the need for some specialist services. The Government of Barbados in the policy document on persons with disabilities reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring appropriate and effective services for persons with disabilities. These will emphasise assessment, prevention, early detection and intervention, treatment of impairment and rehabilitation. The implementation strategies will focus on prevention and rehabilitation and personnel are to be fully trained to execute the various initiatives. To meet these commitments, the Home and Community Based Care Task Force Ministry of Health has engaged a consultant to look at legislative framework ultimately this should result in at greater access and increased support for home and community based care. In addition, the Head of the Rehabilitative Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is on the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre. Medical services for disabled children are offered through the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre, the Elayne Scantlebury Centre (St. Andrew’s Children’s Centre) and the Evalina Smith Children’s Ward. Ties between the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital are being strengthened to ensure greater access for children with disabilities. The Consultant Psychiatrist at the QEH visits the AC Graham Development Centre and makes assessments on requests from the Centre. It is important to note that children with disabilities have always had access to free medical services at the Polyclinics and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

	Male	Female	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005
No. of Referrals	104	40	144	139	170	160	170	162
No. of Persons seen for the first time	81	26	107	137	158	143	152	162
No. of Persons Medically Reviewed	1 181	459	1 640	1 097	1 137	1 115	1 227	1 001
No. of No Shows			613	382	486	454	497	478
No. of Deaths	4	1	5	2	3	5	3	7
Total No. of Persons Registered at 2009-12-31			3 577	3 470	3 331	3 142	3 002	2 845
Adjustment for deaths	4	1	5	2	3	5	3	7
Overall No. of persons registered at the Centre for the period 1st September, 1981 to 31st December, 2010	2 389	1 188	3 572	3 470	3 328	3 137	2 999	2 835

Age group	1999	2000	2001	2009
No.	% of total	No.	% of total	No.	% of total	No.	% of total
0–4	70	53.0	77	56.6	61	40.1	74	54.0
5–9	43	32.6	49	36.0	78	51.3	49	35.8
10–14	15	11.4	7	5.1	9	5.9	13	9.5
15–19	1	0.7	1	0.7	1	0.7	1	0.7
20–24	1	0.7	-	-	...	...	0	0.0
25 and over	2	1.5	2	1.5	3	109	0	0.0
Total	132	100	136	100	152	100	137	100

Year	Number of children
1997	120
1998	120
1999	140
2000	154
2001	166
2002	172
2003	172
2004	182
2005	192
2006	192
2007	202
2008	340
2009	361
2010	385

112. The specific aims and objectives of the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre include coordinating services for handicapped children on a national basis, providing registration and assessment services, monitoring the total health needs of registered disabled children, and enlightening the general public on the rights of the child so as to promote changes in attitudes to the disabled child. The Centre offers basic types of services to the community, including educational services through an Education Unit, which provides educational programming for children with multiple handicapping conditions who are functioning on a trainable/moderate level. Children between the ages of 5 and 16 years are accepted into this programme. Children are prepared to enter other special schools for high-functioning students. Others may have to remain until the maximum age and then move on to sheltered or open workshops for vocational training.

113. The Government-run services for children with disabilities are provided free of cost. In addition, the Government provides annual subventions to private institutions offering these services. Persons at risk of developing a disability are being detected at polyclinics and targeted for early attention. All mothers are carefully monitored during pregnancy and babies born to mothers who are at risk are followed up after birth. The Milestone Programme for assessing disabilities in the newborn was implemented in 2006 and this programme continues to exist. Information on the nature and types of disabilities being detected and catered to by the various institutions is provided in the following tables based on the 2000 census.

Males 0–19 with disability/major impairment by age group and type of disability/major impairment

Age Group	Type of Disability/Major Impairment	*Total male population 0–19 with disability/major impairment*
Sight	Hearing	Speech	Upper limb	Lower limb	Neck/ Spine	Intel-lectual	Mental	Other disability	Not stated
>5	6	3	13	-	6	5	10	6	35	222	293
5–9	10	20	24	6	15	7	58	11	48	147	305
10–14	7	22	17	4	15	2	63	12	60	129	306
15–19	17	14	19	5	12	2	73	20	51	124	318
Total	40	59	73	15	48	16	204	49	194	622	1 320

Females 0–19 with disability/major impairment by age group and type of disability/major impairment

114. A new Child Health Record was developed and went into use in January, 2009. This record was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and relevant stakeholders. It is presented to principals on the child’s entry to primary school. This early notification of development deficits will allow for improved planning for children with development deficits in the educational system. Speech and language testing for disabilities have been added to the screening programme and primary school children now receive tests for hearing, visual and speech disabilities, and the government in collaboration with UNICEF has recently completed a study aimed at creating a revamped system for systematic identification of disabilities in all public primary and secondary schools.

115. The Ministry of Education is committed to ensuring that members of staff undergo the training necessary to enable better management of children with disabilities. Human resources for special education are being increased on a phased basis. One hundred and twenty-six (126) teachers have been trained in Special Education. Learning Support Coordinators will also be placed in schools on a phased basis. These will ensure that teacher’s assessments, diagnosis, case conferencing and assessment of disabilities are well coordinated between the children, the school and the Ministry of Education. Consultations will also be held with the parents and guardians of children with disabilities. There is a general interest one-year part-time evening course in Special Needs at Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, which may be taken by teachers or members of the public. There is a component on Special Needs in the General Teacher Training In-Service Course. Despite these efforts some areas like autism are still in need of greater attention. However, it is anticipated that the current significant contributions from the Private Sectors, NGOs and Charitable organizations will help to further strengthen areas of weakness and help improve the lives of all children with disabilities.

Age Group	Type of Disability/Major Impairment	*Total female population 0-19 with disability/major impairment*
Sight	Hearing	Speech	Upper Limb	Lower Limb	Neck/ Spine	Intel-lectual	Mental	Other Disability	Not stated
>5	3	5	7	1	3	1	4	1	31	196	244
5–9	7	19	22	3	5	2	17	7	43	139	239
10–14	16	14	14	7	12	14	45	8	44	138	277
15–19	24	13	12	8	6	3	35	12	47	94	234
Total	50	51	106	19	26	20	101	28	165	567	994

116. The National Disabilities Unit offers a Sign Language Programme with classes at four levels – Junior, Basic 1 and 2 and Intermediate. Classes cater to children, parents and relatives of children with disabilities, as well as the general public. The programme seeks to bring about a reduction in negative attitudes and stigma towards Persons with Hearing Impairment, and facilitate the integration and inclusion of hearing impaired persons in all aspects of community life, including employment, business and church. Five hundred and forty-three (543) persons — 360 children and 183 adults — completed Sign Language Courses in 2010.

Class/Gender	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Child
Introduction M	6	72	52	156	95
Introduction F	24	251	239	463	194
Introduction Level 1–M			53	14	24
Introduction Level 1–F			141	104	47
Sub-total	30	323	485	737	360
Adult
Basic 1 M	12	21	4	11	15
Basic 1 F	104	166	43	182	95
Basic 11 M	7	2	1	3	1
Basic 11 F	65	53	25	53	50
Intermediate M	1	3	2	1	2
Intermediate F	42	36	10	28	20
Sub-total	231	281	85	278	183

Measures to recognise and ensure the of every child to enjoyment of health etc./Measures to ensure that no child is deprived of his/her access to health care services/Measures to ensure respect for general principles of CRC

117. The policies on health of the Government of Barbados are predicated on the philosophy that health care is a fundamental right of Barbadians. Universal access to health care is a tangible manifestation of this right.^[22] Accordingly, Barbados’ health care strategy is based on the primary health care approach as well as the health promotion model as set out in the Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion. Health care services in the public sector are provided free of user fees and co-payments to Barbadians and approved non-nationals.

118. According to the 2000 Census, Barbados’ total population was 268,792 persons, with 129,241 (48%) males and 139,551 (52%) females. Approximately 21.6% of the population was under 15 years and 12.1% was 65 years and over. Indicators of health status (based on the 2000 census data) show that life expectancy at birth was 72.9 years for men and 77.4 years for women. Not only are people living longer, but infant and child survival rates have improved.

119. Barbadians in general enjoy a relatively high standard of living with estimates being made that 85 per cent own the houses in which they live; 90 per cent of households having running water and the remainder have access to potable water; 90 per cent having electricity; 80 per cent having telephones; 85 per cent having refrigerators and 42 per cent having motor vehicles. Health services in the public sector are financed from the Government’s tax revenue. In 2000–2001 fiscal year (April 1 to March 31), the allocation to the Ministry of Health was US $139.8 million, or 14 percent of Total Government Expenditure. The allocation to the Ministry of Health in 2009–2010 fiscal year was US $190.5 million, or 11 percent of Total Government Expenditure. On average, this allocation to the Ministry of Health is estimated to be 4.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

120. The expenditure trends in the health sector are as follows: Hospital Services, which include the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Emergency Ambulance Service, the Medical Aid Scheme, the Psychiatric Hospital and the Care of the Elderly Programme utilise on average, over 52 percent of the financial resources allocated to the Ministry. Primary Health Care services utilise about 21 percent while the Pharmaceutical Programme utilizes 13 percent. The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project utilises on average three percent of the budget while expenditure on Direction and Policy Formulation Services of the Ministry is about four percent annually.

Measures undertaken to diminish infant and child mortality, including average rates etc.

121. Barbados has a well-established Maternal and Child Care Programme, which includes the provision of antenatal services (offered to pregnant women commencing in the first trimester) to ensure appropriate care of mother and the developing foetus, obstetric care attended by a physician and registered midwife, scheduled monitoring of child development by Public Health Nurses, and an immunization service. The national goal for child health seeks to promote antenatal, intra natal and post natal services as well as the care of infants and children. Accordingly, two key health indicators for 2012 were to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate below 10 per 1000 live births, and to decrease the incidence of low birth rate babies.^[23]

122. Barbados’ Infant Mortality Rate rose steadily from 10.6 per thousand live births in 1997 to 14.7 in 2001. It again rose from 10.1 in 2004 to a high of 18.1 in 2007 (see Table 9). By 2009, the IMR had declined to 10.9 per thousand live births. At no time during the period did the IMR fall within the target range. During this period, the Perinatal Mortality Rate declined from a high of 21.6 in 2001 to a low of 16.1 per thousand births in 2005. Although this rate increased in 2006 to 19.1, there was a sustained decline in the following years (see Table 10). On the other hand, the Neonatal Mortality Rate rose steadily from a low of 6.6 per thousand live births in 2004 to a high of 14.8 in 2007. According to the reports of the Chief Medical Officer 2002 and 2003, and for 2004 to 2006, the main causes of death in infants during those periods were: Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period, Congenital Anomalies, Pneumonia, Diseases of the Respiratory System, Malignant Neoplasms and Diseases of the Central Nervous System.

123. The IMR continue to be a concern for Ministry of Health. In 2006, a maternal and child mortality conference was convened with a wide cross-section of stakeholders from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the polyclinics and the central Ministry of Health, to discuss the issues and to reach consensus on the strategies to be utilised. Research was also initiated into the causes of infant deaths, maternal deaths and still births. One of the outcomes arising from the maternal and child mortality conference was the revision of the antenatal, intra natal and postnatal referral and treatment protocols. This revision included the introduction of new forms for recording antenatal notes and training for stakeholders in the perinatal surveillance system (SIPS).

124. The leading causes of deaths in children under-five years were due primarily to conditions originating in the perinatal period, followed by congenital anomalies. According to the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2004 to 2006, the Under-five Mortality Rate was 2.6 in 2004 and had increased to 3.5 in 2006. Deaths in the age group 5–14 years during the period were due primarily to road traffic accidents and accidental drowning. In the 15–24 years age group, the leading causes of death were road traffic accidents, heart disease and HIV/AIDS.

Measures taken to ensure provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children

125. Diseases of the respiratory system including asthma and/or chronic obstructive airway disease are among the leading causes of hospitalisation in children under five years of age. Children can attend the polyclinics any day but at least one day a week there is a dedicated child health clinic and advice is also given to parents. These services are provided free of cost enabling all children to have access to medical care. The Ministry of Health has endorsed a project that aims at sensitising children to asthma and providing those affected by the disease with skills to manage it on their own. The project is a collaborative effort between Queens University of Canada, the local Rotary Club and Rotary International, along with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. Additionally, the Pharmaceutical Company, AstraZeneca has been working with the Steering Committee of the National Asthma Programme to raise awareness among school children, and to host a national school quiz annually.

126. Barbados’ immunization schedule requires that children under one year be immunized with three doses of oral polio and the pentavalent vaccine, as well as their first dose of the measles mumps rubella vaccine (MMR1). The pentavalent vaccine contains the following five vaccines: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenza B. Pentavalent vaccine has been administered to all children in the routine service since 2001. In January, 2009 the pneumococcal vaccine was introduced in the routine childhood schedule. All vaccines are provided without any charge at the polyclinics.

Vaccine	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Polio	92.7	91.3	84.6	92.6	85.0	n.a.^[26]	92.5
Pentavalent	92.6	92.1	84.4	92.5	85.1	n.a.	88.3
MMR1	98.1	92.8	92.4	75.4	93.7	n.a.	87.2

Source: Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2004 to 2006 and EPI Manager.

127. The Health Services Communicable and Notifiable Diseases Regulations require children on first entry to school to be immunised against diphtheria, measles, tetanus and polio, however a small percentage of parents/guardians exercise the right to refuse immunisation for their children. In Barbados the second dose of MMR is administered between the ages of three and five years. Statistics on immunisation coverage for the second dose of MMR show that on average, over 90 per cent of children are immunised by age five. The 75.3 per cent coverage during 2007 was an anomaly due mainly to a shortage of vaccine in Barbados during that year.

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
MMR2	100	97.8	95.6	75.3	97.4	n.a.	98.8

Source: Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2004 to 2006 and EPI Manager.

128. A Child Health Record or “Green Card” is given to parents at the child’s birth and is a permanent record for the child’s road to health. Parents take this record to the private doctor, clinic or hospital for completion at each visit. Information recorded on this card includes the child’s perinatal history, landmarks of development, vaccines received and reasons for special care. Weight, illnesses and haemoglobin are also recorded on the chart.

129. The Record does not only provide parents with information on the child’s weight, but provide an objective indicator of any variance from the standard or average weight-for-age of healthy well-fed children. This indicator is used to trigger investigations into cases of overweight or obesity, as well as underweight children. In January 2009, The Ministry of Health introduced the Child Health Passport to replace the Green Card. This new Child Health Record has provided a platform for improved child health monitoring, specifically with regards to the earlier identification of developmental delays.

130. Research programmes into the causes of obesity in the newborn were initiated during 2006. It includes dental development and nutritional information.

131. The policy of the Government of Barbados is to promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first three month of life. This policy is enforced at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and discussed at antenatal and child health clinics in all polyclinics. In 1997, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital achieved the UNICEF baby friendly designation. The Ministry of Health hosts an annual Breastfeeding Week during the month of August, during which efforts are made to increase public awareness about its importance as well as to test the knowledge of doctors and nurses about breastfeeding.

Measures to combat disease and malnutrition including the proportion of children with low birth weight/The nature and context of most common diseases and impact on children/Proportion of children affected by malnutrition and lack of clean drinking water/Children provided with adequate nutritious food/ Risk from environmental pollution and measures to prevent and combat them

132. The Barbados Food Consumption and Anthropometric Survey in 2000 reported a low incidence of mild under-nutrition but virtually no incidence of moderate or severe under-nutrition in the population as a whole. In view of the mandate of the National Nutrition Centre to promote better nutrition in Barbados, the surveillance programme for monitoring the nutritional status of children under five years old in the polyclinics has been strengthened. The Centre also focuses on promoting food security at the household and community levels.

133. In spite of the Ministry’s goal to reduce the incidence of Low Birth Weight babies (< 2500gms), the trend has been for just over 11 per cent of births to be so classified.

134. The Ministry of Education through the School Meals Department provides balanced meals to Primary School children daily at a minimal cost. The menus for the school-feeding programme are carefully planned to ensure that the child’s nutritional needs are met. The menus normally include:

(a) A serving of meat, fish or poultry or a one-pot meal containing a high proportion of meat; so that the child is provided with good sources of protein in adequate amounts;

135. In response to a concern that many children have been attending school without breakfast, a number of civil society organizations have been operating Breakfast Programmes across the island.

Year	No. low birth weight	*Percentage of total births*
2002	422	12.3
2003	394	11.3
2004	428	12.8
2005	459	14.0
2006	430	13.6
2007	432	13.1
2008	430	12.9
2009	407	12.6

136. The National Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Commission of the Ministry of Health (CNCD Commission) concerned about the nutritional standards of foods available to secondary school children requested the National Nutrition Centre in 2009, to prepare a set of guidelines for school canteen operators. These guidelines, entitled “Nutritious and Healthy Foods in Schools: Practical Guidelines for Barbados” were approved by the Cabinet in 2010. Consequently, the CNCD Commission undertook a series of advocacy initiatives to promote the guidelines, including a consultation with the Ministry of Education, Canteen Operators, the Ministry of Health and the National Nutrition Centre, the media, the National Parents Teachers Association, the Ministry of Agriculture and the food production section of the Barbados Manufacturer’s Association.

137. The Guidelines were well received and Canteen Operators used the opportunity to highlight challenges they face to supply tasty meals for children. Arising from the consultation, the Ministry of Education has agreed to take the leadership role to implement the guidelines in schools. Additionally, a follow up meeting was convened by the National Nutrition Centre with Canteen Operators to demonstrate alternative techniques for preparation of popular menu choices.

138. Over 90 per cent of Barbadian households have running potable water, and the remainder have easy access to a potable water supply. Barbadian children are therefore not faced with any challenge in their access to potable water.

139. The Environmental Health Department of the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Protection Department of the Ministry of the Environment, collaboratively monitor the importation, use and disposal of hazardous chemical and other environmental pollutants. Environmental Health Officers routinely visit homes, schools, day care centres as well as parks and playgrounds to ensure that the health and safety of children are maintained.

140. Following the presentation of Barbados’ first report to the Commission on the Rights of the Child, several concerns were raised by the Commission, which recommended that this section of the Report should address those concerns.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 25 of the concluding observations on the initial report

141. The Government of Barbados has been mindful of the challenges faced by adolescents in respect of alcohol and drug use, tobacco, and reproductive health. Adolescent Health is a component of the Primary Health Care Programmes in all polyclinics, and is delivered either as a school-based or a clinic-based activity. Public Health Nurses meet with adolescents in their schools, youth group and other settings, as well as those who are already out of school, to provide health education and address issues such as HIV, AIDS, STIs, teenage pregnancy, human sexuality and illicit drug use. They also examine health, diet and exercise and obesity. Additionally, the Barbados Council for the Disabled spearheads, in collaboration with UNFPA and the Barbados Family Planning Association, a programme of sexual and reproductive health run by persons with disabilities and peer counsellors who have disabilities, to reach a highly vulnerable group of sexually active young persons with disabilities. The focus is on HIV/AIDS, condom use and general awareness of enhancing good health. With respect to the matter of adolescents having access to medical advice and treatment without parental consent in accordance with their age and maturity this matter is under consideration and discussion has reached the level of Parliament.

142. During the decade, the Ministry of Education implemented a revised Health and Family Life Education Curriculum to be taught in primary and secondary schools. Public Health Nurses teach part of this curriculum. The Ministry of Health also facilitated training for secondary school teachers in behaviour change communication.

143. The number of teenage pregnancies occurring in Barbados continues to be a concern to the Government. Using teenage deliveries as a proxy for the situation with respect to teenage pregnancies, Table 15 shows there has been an overall downward trend in the number of deliveries, and in the proportion of babies born to teens. Peaked in 2001 at 715 and had declined in 2003 to the lowest since 1996, when there were 550 recorded teenage pregnancies.

Year	No. of pregnancies	Percentage
1997	616	18.3
1998	634	19.6
1999	632	17.9
2000	665	19.6
2001	715	19.7
2002	619	18.1
2003	573	16.3
2004	559	16.7
2005	534	16.3
2006	490	15.5
2007	570	15.5
2008	512	15.6

144. Barbados in 2009 introduced legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco to and by minors (children under the age of 16 years), and banning smoking in public places. A more serious challenge exists however with the use of illegal drugs. The Barbados report of the CICAD sponsored Secondary School Survey (2010)^[27]of 11–17 year olds (in public and private schools in 12 Caribbean) reported the prevalence of drug use in Barbados as follows:

145. The report from a 2009 Assessment of Substance Abuse Treatment facilities in Barbados identified a gap with respect to the provision of comprehensive treatment services, particularly for children and adolescents. In an October 2010 consultation led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the PAHO, recommendations were made for establishment of a comprehensive programme for children and adolescents that focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support. It was agreed that this programme should involve both government and civil society providers of drug treatment services. Consequently, in 2011, the Ministry of Health, PAHO and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) of the University of Toronto convened a workshop to provide stakeholders with strategies and directions for developing a substance abuse programme.

146. The Ministry is as a result in the process of developing a pilot project for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse in children and adolescents. The goal of the family-based programme is to reduce substance use in youth and to offer support for parents. The programme would focus on relational and personal skill development for both adolescents and their families and this is expected to foster a more healthy and supportive environment for positive development. It is anticipated that the pilot project will be implemented in conjunction with existing programmes conducted by the Centre for Counselling Addiction Support Alternatives (CASA). Programmes conducted at CASA target children and adolescents, in addition to women and are primarily conducted through after school counselling sessions. CASA currently receives referrals for services from the Ministry of Education, the Juvenile Liaison Scheme, the Probation Department and the Magistrates Courts.

147. Additionally, the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA), which was established as a Statutory Board in May 1995 under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has a mandate to reduce the incidence and demand for drugs in schools and the wider community. One of its programmes for children is called Project SOFT which is a one week residential self-development programme for children ages 11–12. It is aimed at addressing issues relating to the increasing levels of drug use and violence among youth.^{[28 ]}The NCSA also runs programmes in the primary and secondary schools to enhance children’s knowledge of good health practices. Another initiative which addresses drug education is the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programme which is taught in the classroom by DARE certified law enforcement officers to prevent or reduce drug abuse and violence among the youth. Introduced into the Caribbean context from the United States of America (USA) in 1996, over five thousand (5000) students both in the primary and secondary schools in Barbados have benefitted from the programme. In order to test the effectiveness of the programme two evaluations have been conducted (2007 and 2010) which show that the programme is meeting its primary objective.

148. During 2011, the Ministry of Health partnered with the Pan American Health Organization to train secondary school children to be peer counsellors, using an Adolescent Tool Kit. The aim of this initiative is to reduce teen pregnancies and to facilitate the development of well-rounded individuals as they transition to adult hood.

149. Although children under 16 cannot consent to medical care on their own behalf, their opinions and assessments are taken into account as much as possible. They are gradually involved over time according to the treatment and care level. Over the past 5-6 years, and more recently in 2011, the Ministry of Health initiated national debate on this issue. However, the debate was not sustained and there has not been any change in policy.

150. The prevalence of HIV in the adult population in Barbados is about 2% with approximately 89% in the sexually active group aged 15 to 49 years. Since 1984, when the first case of HIV was reported, to 2008 there have been some 3,252 reported cases of HIV positive persons. Since the start of the epidemic, there have been 1,444 deaths from HIV-related causes. The most common form of transmission in Barbados is sexual intercourse. HIV related deaths comprise the primary cause of deaths in young adults between ages 15–39. In addition, the infection rate among females, including young females, is rapidly increasing. In 2006 for the first time, the number of men being diagnosed with HIV equalled the number of women. The reported cases of HIV in the age groups up to 19 years are provided in the tables below.

Age Group	Female	Male	*Grand total*
> 1 year	13	20	33
1–4 years	15	20	35
5–9 years	4	4	8
10–14 years	72	32	104
15–19 years	3	3	6
Total	107	79	186

Age group	# of PLHIV at the end of 2008	Estimated # of persons at the end of 2008	HIV prevalence at the end of 2008
Female	Male	*Total*	Female	Male	*Total*	Female	Male	*Total*
<10	3	8	11	18 052	18 441	36 493	0.02	0.04	0.03
10–19	24	20	44	19 406	19 488	38 88	0.12	0.10	0.11

Source: UNGASS Country Progress Report Barbados 2010, NHS database and Barbados Statistical Services, 2010.

151. It is estimated that there are over 200 orphans and vulnerable children as a result of HIV and AIDS. These children are given monetary and in-kind assistance by the Government. The Government of Barbados provides all (100 %) orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) with basic external support (that is, education, welfare). It should be noted that access to national social services is based on qualification for such services. In Barbados, the Welfare Department, provides two categories of assistance. The first category, national assistance, is further subdivided into monetary grants and assistance- in-kind. The latter refers to the provision of clothing, food and utilities. Approximately 88 (35 males and 53 females) HIV dependents (that is, children) received national assistance from the Welfare Department in 2009.

152. The second category of educational assistance entails the provision of school fees, school uniforms and textbooks. This service is sometimes provided in conjunction with the Ministry of Education which, at the request of the Department, will grant waivers for school fees as well as fees connected to the Textbook Loan Scheme. The Welfare Department, in providing educational assistance, does not differentiate between children affected or infected by HIV and other children to whom educational assistance is also provided. In 2008 educational assistance to OVC was BDS $7,342.68 and in 2009, $10,769.69. Between 2006 and 2009 the Welfare department gave BDS $30,801.94 in educational assistance. Though this figure might appear small it is quite substantial given the context of Barbadian social network which provides free public education to all children inclusive of the tertiary level.

153. Barbados set up a National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACA) in 1985 under the Ministry of Health, but this unit is now under the Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth. In 2001, in the context of the need for an expanded response to the epidemic, the National HIV/AIDS Commission (NHAC) was established under the Office of the Prime Minister. The NHAC has responsibility for advising on policy and coordinating the national programme. Within the Public Sector, there are twenty (20) key line Government Ministries with two (2) having dedicated HIV and AIDS core groups and each Ministry having an annual Work Plan for which they receive financing as part of the annual budgetary process.

154. The Government’s financial commitments for HIV are shown in Table 18. Government’s overall financial commitments for HIV during the last reporting period (2007–2009) have steadily increased with the largest increase being seen in 2008/2009. There has also been an increase in the resource allocation for prevention and care and support from $2.8 million to $6.2 million in 2008 and $12.1 million in 2009. In addition there has been a significant re-distribution of spending within the budgeted area, with a stronger focus being placed on prevention and care and support-related spending, accounting for more than half of the allocations in 2008 and 2009. These efforts are commendable since they are key strategies in reducing the spread of the epidemic. The NHAC has successfully engaged a range of stakeholders, brokered a model partnership with the Trade Unions, and redoubled its efforts to mobilize the private sector and civil society into tangible and meaningful action.^[29]

Components	2001–2002	2002–2003	2003–2004	2004–2005	2005–2006	2006–2007	2007–2008	2008–2009
Prevention	120 680	643 948	883 909	900 884	1 502 451	1 125 145	3 823 022	8 316 374
Care and Support	1 873 030	1 611 835	1 348 699	1 729 860	1 515 498	1 713 864	2 413 008	3 775 379
Treatment	3 469 801	2 696 603	2 968 490	4 194 801	5 890 027	6 521 192	4 119 257	9 027 054
Management	1 358 971	1 917 892	2 463 564	2 668 092	3 821 253	3 656 253	-	335 920
Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network (CHART)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	708 500
Total BDS	6 822 482	6 870 278	7 664 662	9 493 638	12 729 228	13 016 449	10 483 672	22 163 227

155. Domestic public expenditure on AIDS in 2009 was BDS $16,020,913.00 (US $8,010,456.50) (excluding funds from international sources; but inclusive of health, education, social development and other sectoral expenditure). The total amount of AIDS expenditures in 2009 (including international and private sources of funds) was BDs $ 23,806,187.67 (US $11,903,093.83).^[30]

156. In 2001, a Comprehensive Programme for the Management, Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS 2001–2006 (the Expanded Response) was started. This was a multi-sectoral programme involving Government Ministries, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations. Through this programme, the Government made a long-term commitment to equip Barbadians with the knowledge, options and resources to prevent transmission of HIV, to foster an environment free of discrimination and stigma for PLHIV and to provide treatment and care for those who had become infected with HIV.

(b) To reduce the incidence significantly over the next five years and slow the rate of progression of HIV infection to AIDS;

(d) To improve the well-being of PLHIV, thus facilitating their return to work and other activities in society.

158. Barbados has had a moderately successful prevention programme. Several key line Ministries have established HIV Core Groups responsible for the design and implementation of prevention and control activities for their respective target populations. Communities across Barbados have been engaged in the response and prevention efforts. The target groups have included adolescents in and out of school, pregnant women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, persons infected with STIs, and PLHIV. Their programmes comprise Information, Education and Communication aimed at increasing public awareness about the prevention and control of HIV and other STI’s as well as condom social marketing and distribution.

159. Barbados is one of the Caribbean countries able to record of a reduction in the rate of MTCT over the past 10 years since the introduction of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme in 1995. Interventions to prevent transmission included the integration and expansion of voluntary counselling and testing during antenatal care, infant feeding counselling with recommendations against breastfeeding, modified protocols of long course zidovudine for mother and infant, single dose nevirapine to mother and infant ; and since January 2002, the provision and initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) therapy in HIV-infected pregnant women when indicated.

160. With the help of the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network (CHART), Caribbean PMTCT guidelines were formulated and published in 2006. These guidelines were adopted by Barbados and reviewed and updated in 2007. To support the guidelines and to further improve PMTCT in Barbados a policy document on PMTCT was developed and approved by the Government of Barbados in 2008. This policy document was published in conjunction with UNICEF and launched in November 2009. Through CHART Barbados, a training curriculum was developed and piloted in 2007. The PMTCT training programme was rolled out in 2009 and is targeted at healthcare providers in Barbados to improve their capacity in clinical management related to PMTCT.

161. HIV testing in the Antenatal clinics (ANC) was initiated in Barbados in 1991. In 2004, 89.7% of all pregnant women in Barbados were tested for HIV. The PMTCT programme started in 1995 and has effectively reduced the vertical transmission of HIV from 27.1% to less than 2.5% with the introduction of HAART. The programme’s success can be attributed to: improved access to care, the good health service infrastructure and the country’s population size. However, the programme has challenges with the information system (documentation and reporting). In spite of these challenges, it is believed that Barbados can achieve PMTCT Universal Access targets as testing uptake nears 100%. In 2006, 84.6% of all pregnant women were tested for HIV and in 2007 this number increased to 95.2% which showed appreciable progress in achieving the 100% target. However, in 2008 and 2009 there was a marginal decline from 95.2% in 2007 to 93% and 94.7% respectively of pregnant women screened for HIV at their antenatal booking. However it must be mentioned that the data set used in 2008 and 2009 was more complete since it covered all of the bookings made in the public system whereas in 2006 and 2007 the data for only 8 of the 11 clinics was used.^[31]

162. An age-appropriate HIV/AIDS curriculum has also been designed for use in primary schools in two-year bands, beginning at five (5) years old – 5–7 years; 7–9 years and 9–11 years. Secondary schools also have an AIDS module in the HFLE syllabus. However, prevention efforts targeted towards young people are needed on a wider scale to address the information needs and gaps among school children, youth in higher education and out-of-school youth. Surveys show that the majority of young people have little effective knowledge about their own sexual and reproductive health and are not translating their knowledge of HIV transmission prevention into the prevention of STIs. KAPB surveys of youth between 15–29 revealed knowledge about transmission but limited regular condom use. Less than one-third of young people report consistent use of condoms and almost one-fifth report never using condoms. A Behaviour Change Communication Specialist, who will work with all ages, was appointed in 2007 at the National HIV/AIDS Commission. The Commission’s National Strategic Plan 2008–2013 also addresses the need for a greater focus on HIV transmission prevention through BCC.

163. For several years UNICEF has been running a programme to empower young people to reduce the rate of HIV infection throughout the Eastern Caribbean, including Barbados. Consultants have been employed to identify youth groups and help them to develop projects to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS and to change the attitudes and behaviour of children and young people.

164. The HIV/AIDS Program of the Ministry of Health continues to play the more significant role in the prevention, treatment, care and support facets of the National AIDS Program. Medical care is largely delivered at the Ladymeade Reference Unit (LRU) which replaced the Counselling Clinic at the QEH. This state-of-the-art facility opened in June 2002 and comprises a multi-disciplinary clinic and laboratory. In keeping with international best practices, the clinic provides Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in need. The laboratory facilitates assessment and monitoring of PLHIV by measuring CD4 counts and HIV-1 RNA (or Viral Load) levels. Children born to HIV infected mothers are followed up at the Paediatric Outpatients Clinic of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Age (years)	2005	2006	2007*
Tested	HIV +	Tested	HIV +	Tested	HIV +
15–19	350	0	359	1	370	1

Age group	2008	2009
ANC Bookings	# Tested for HIV	HIV positive	ANC Bookings	# Tested for HIV	HIV positive
9–14	15	15	0	5	5	0
15–19	456	419	1	448	423	2

165. A cost benefit analysis in the first year of operation of the LRU revealed the following:

1. Number of hospital admissions for HIV/AIDS decreased by 42% from 316 overall admissions to 183;

5. Overall reduction in deaths of clinic-registered patients by approximately 56%.

Percentage of adults and children with advanced HIV infection receiving antiretroviral therapy

Year	Children (< 15 years)	Adults (>15 years)
Male (%/n)	Female(%/n)	*Total (%/n)*	Male (%/n)	Female(%/n)	*Total (%/n)*
2006	N/A	N/A	100	79.1	92.2	84.4
2007	N/A	N/A	100	79.6	93.8	85.5
2008	100/5	100/5	100/10	87.1/406	88.1/333	87.6/739
2009	100/5	100/5	100/10	87.3/440	87.4/354	87.3/794

166. Although Barbados’ HIV/AIDS prevention and control programme has made good progress from its inception the goal is to provide Universal Access for all by 2010. This entails the scaling-up of the comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for all who are in need of these services. The over-arching developmental goal of the National AIDS Program is:

“Mitigation of the social and economic impact of HIV on the population thereby reducing the incidence and ensuring the sustainable development of our nation.”

166. According to the NHAC, HIV and AIDS stigmatisation, discrimination and denial are the greatest barriers to effective prevention and treatment efforts. Various actions have been developed to empower PLHIV and inform the population in an attempt to reduce the impact of stigma and discrimination. These include the development of a discriminatory registry to record episodes of discrimination; orientation workshops to disseminate HIV and AIDS workplace policies; PLHIV empowerment; human rights seminars and community centre meetings to inform on policies regarding stigma and discrimination. During 2004, the NHAC developed a human rights mass media campaign under the theme “Embrace Tolerance, Protect Human Rights”. This campaign coincided with a national assessment exercise on legal and ethical issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, which was commissioned in 2004. This comprised a review of relevant legislation and the attendant socio-economic impact and recommendations on, inter alia, anti-discrimination legislation; sexual offences with children; minors and consent to medical care and confidentiality. There was a series of town hall meetings to get feedback on the recommendations from a range of stakeholders. Currently, a series of animated skits developed by UNICEF on stigma and discrimination by children of children with HIV and AIDS are being shown on the local television station.

167. HIV positive children are entitled to attend school in the same way as those who are well. Guidelines for Handling HIV in Schools in Barbados were developed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the National Advisory Committee on AIDS and other participating social service agencies in 1993. These guidelines state, inter alia, that:

(a) All persons irrespective of their HIV status are entitled to attend and/or work in schools; and

(b) HIV infected children must be accommodated in the school system, at an institution appropriate to their educational needs.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 26 of the concluding observations on the initial report

168. As indicated earlier, assistance in cash and kind is available to eligible families, based on income through agencies such as the Welfare Department and the Identification and Assessment, Stabilisation, Enablement and Empowerment (ISEE) Bridge Project,^[32] and Constituency Councils. Currently the Government through the Child Care Board operates 15 day-care centres and the private centres have increased steadily. On an annual basis the Government Day Care Centres which have a capacity of one thousand and fifty-seven (1057) are fully subscribed with children between the ages of three (3) months and four (4) years. At December 2011 one hundred and sixty-three (163) private day care centres were known to the Board to be in operation with an enrolment in excess of over six thousand (6000) children. The demand for child care cannot be met by the existing centres. However, the Government’s policy of increasing pre-school facilities for 3–5 year olds is expected to result in a decrease in the demand for day care. The practicality of setting up child care facilities at the work place for public employees thereby enabling breastfeeding practices remains under discussion and review.

169. The measures implemented to ensure the child’s right to an adequate standard of living include the establishment of the various government social service agencies of the former Ministry of Social Transformation (now the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development) and their respective services and programmes, which ensure that assistance is available for those who cannot maintain an adequate standard of living. Tables 23 to 24 below illustrate the strong government support provided for children and families through such departments, such as the Child care Board and the Welfare Department.

Year	Child Care Board	Welfare Department
1997–8	--	15 022 640
1998–9	--	15 473 223
1999–2000	--	15 007 475
2000–1	14 499 286	13 959 187
2001–2	14 792 275	--
2002–3	15 050 698	12 725 169
2003–4	15 850 520	12 182 004
2004–5	16 481 779	10 660 158
2005–6	16 696 012	11 371 604
2006–7	17 314 096	13 913 574
2007–8	18 950 318	22 894 451
2008–9	19 376 067	28 200 334
2009–10	20 546 408	20 559 123

Financial years	Assistance for children	Expenditure
2007–2008	3 189	$267 401
2008–2009	2 382	$368 150
2009–2010	3 335	$350 951

Categories of Grant	March 2007–2008	April–October 2008–2009	October 2009–2010
Male	Female	*Total*	Male	Female	*Total*	Male	Female	*Total*
Children under 16	1 692	1 756	3 448	1 570	1 605	3 175	791	750	1 541
Children over 16 at school	173	256	429	168	258	426	68	112	179
Special Cases- Children	7	5	12	14	9	23	35	41	76
Total	1 872	2 017	3 889	1 752	1 872	3 624	894	902	1 796

170. The Government of Barbados has conducted various studies, with the assistance of international bodies, on poverty, including a 1996 Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) national study to estimate the extent, main characteristics of poverty and income distribution and a 2001 Commonwealth Secretariat examination of poverty in a rural and an urban district. Among other things, the studies revealed that poor households spent most of their money on food and the payment of bills and estimated that the extent of poverty in Barbados was 13.9%.^[33] Income is the main criterion for deciding the extent and level of assistance offered by the Welfare Department. Other factors, such as general living conditions, home environment and the parent/guardian’s ability to secure the basic needs of the child are taken into account. The government has recently completed an official Assessment of Living Conditions in Barbados and the draft document is currently being subjected to public review and debate prior to its finalization.^[34] Various non-governmental organizations assist in enabling children and their families to have a decent standard of living but the government entity with primary responsibility for this area is the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, and Community Development, and its various units, including the Welfare Department and the Poverty Alleviation Bureau. A number of regional and international agencies including UNICEF, UNDP, UNWOMEN, CDB, IADB, the World Bank, IMF and others also play a critical role in enabling families and children in Barbados to enjoy a decent standard of living through funding and research projects.^{[35 ]}Given the fact that persons with disabilities tend to be at the bottom rung of the poverty ladder the Barbados Council for the Disabled has recommended highly targeted actions to protect children with disabilities from the effects of poverty.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 27 of the concluding observations on the initial report

171. The Barbados educational system is structured into tiers, with some overlapping at each one as follows:

172. The education system caters to approximately 28 000 students at the primary level, 21 000 students at the secondary level and 15,000 at tertiary level including those enrolled at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus. Within the education system there are presently 70 public primary schools, 1 infant school, 8 public nursery schools, 20 private schools offering primary education, 22 public secondary schools, 3 public special schools, 2 private special schools, 8 private schools offering secondary education, 3 tertiary-level institutions (namely the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus, Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic), 1 teachers’ training institution and 1 central administrative agency.

	Public and Private Primary Enrolment (Barbados)				Public and Private Secondary Enrolment (Barbados)
	*Total M*	*Total F*	*Total Roll*		*Total M*	*Total F*	*Total Roll*
2000–2001	15 094	14 705	29 799	2000–2001	10 759	10 715	21 474
2000–2001	15 094	14 705	29 799	2000–2001	10 759	10 715	21 474
2001–2002	14 942	14 500	29 442	2001–2002	10 755	10 681	21 436
2002–2003	14 849	14 212	29 061	2002–2003	10 711	10 803	21 514
2003–2004	14 523	13 878	28 401	2003–2004	10 951	10 960	21 911
2004–2005	14 475	13 979	28 454	2004–2005	11 072	10 879	21 951
2005–2006	14 697	14 018	28 715	2005–2006	10 682	10 860	21 542
2006–2007	14 607	14 115	28 722	2006–2007	10 646	10 715	21 361
2007–2008*	14 608	14 177	28 780	2007–2008*	10 475	10 652	21 127
2008–2009*	14 451	13 989	28 440	2008–2009*	10 295	10 403	20 698

173. A White Paper on Education Reform: Preparing for the 21st Century was compiled by the then Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture in 1995. This White Paper outlined a reform programme, developed after consultations with students, teachers, principals, unions, churches and other interest groups and stakeholders. The education reform policy had the following major objectives:

(d) Developing a workforce that is equipped to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and that is readily trainable;

(e) Ensuring equity in the delivery of education and equality of opportunity in the access to education;

(g) Helping the population to develop positive attitudes, values and beliefs to enhance the individual and his/her position in the family, community and nation;

(i) Sensitising teachers to the importance of catering to the individual needs of students;

(j) Fostering a greater partnership between the school, the home and the community; and

(k) Strengthening the Ministry’s capacity to plan, manage and evaluate the education system more effectively.

174. The reform programme covered the following areas: Teacher Empowerment; Curriculum Reform; Special Education; Early Childhood Education; Primary Education; Senior and Composite Schools; National Certification; Assisted Private Schools; Children at Risk; Sixth Form Schools and Equitable Access; Tertiary Education; Institutional Strengthening; Finance and Legislative implications. Further reforms to the education system have since been undertaken. These reforms are being guided by the government’s 2011–2016 human resource development strategy, and a 2010 report of a national advisory commission on education.^[36]

175. Barbados’ ongoing commitment to education can be measured in the significant allocation of funds to this budget head during the review period. The approved expenditure of the Ministry of Education, and Human Resource Development for financial year 2010/2011 was $519.8 million, a 0.4 percentage decrease over the $521.6 million approved during the financial year 2009/2010. This accounted for approximately 13% of total Government expenditure. Secondary education was allocated approximately $125.2 million, a 3 percentage decrease over the $129.0 million approved for 2009/2010, while $159.8 million was allocated to tertiary, a decline of 1.2 percent below the previous year’s figure.

176. Government’s commitment to investing in basic education was demonstrated in the allocation of approximately $150.6 million to pre-primary and primary education compared with $142.6 million for the fiscal year 2009/2010. This represented a 5.6 percent increase. The allocation to special services showed a decrease of 11.9 percent from $44.5 million in 2009/2010 to $39.7 million in 2010/2011. The financial allocation to Central Administration however, increased from $16.8 million in 2009/2010 to $19.7 million in 2010/2011 a 17.4 percent increase. The allocation to teacher training decreased to $4.5 million from $4.8 million in financial year 2009/2010, which represents a marginal decline.

177. Based on an understanding of the real cost to the family of a child’s education, the Barbados Government has introduced a number of measures to ensure that there is universal coverage in relation to education and that all children’s rights to quality education are ensured. These include free primary and secondary education in public schools and the provision of both partial and full bursaries to some students attending private schools, which are also given annual subventions. Additionally, the following new measures have been adopted:

178. While the government of Barbados has long had a secondary school textbook loan scheme, it now plans to launch a primary school textbook scheme. In keeping with Government’s pledge to introduce a Text Book Scheme for primary schools, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development commenced the phased procurement and distribution of text books to all primary schools. The goal is to provide text books in the core subject areas of the national curriculum. To date, all public primary schools have been issued with text books to cover the curriculum in Language Arts and Mathematics. The process is ongoing with text books in the area of science being distributed in the current phase.

179. However, the Ministry is aware that approximately 10% of the primary school population experience serious challenges in acquiring the requisite texts and workbooks which parents are required to purchase for their wards. To ensure that this vulnerable group is not disadvantaged in anyway, the Ministry has introduced a programme to cater to the needs of those most in need of assistance with the acquisition of workbooks. The Ministry has included in its 2011–2012 budget the sum of $500 000 to facilitate this programme. This policy was articulated by the Minister of Finance in the 2010 Budget Statement. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the public primary schools, will institute a mechanism to effectively identify and administer this new policy. It is also anticipated that the Inter-Ministerial Task Force to monitor and strengthen the Social Safety net will provide another medium through which the Government will be able to offer short and long term assistance to these and other vulnerable groups. Additionally, the Government has provided assistive devices and appropriate technologies to help children with disabilities learn as well as their able-bodied peers.

180. During the period under review, the School Meals Department (SMD) prepared and distributed three million, sixty thousand, seven hundred and thirty-one (3, 060,731) meals at a cost of $4,555,968 while the average lunch participation of pupils increased marginally from 24, 848 to 25,121 per day. Refurbishment works at a cost of $410, 719 were completed on 4 centres to ensure compliance with environmental health standards. During the fiscal year 2010–2011, pre-construction activities commenced on a new, ultra-modern, state-of-the-art, School Meals Centre. The proposed centre, which will occupy an area of 30,000 sq. ft., has been designed as a “green building”. It is envisaged that the new centre will allow for the following:

181. It will be operated in accordance with the internationally recognized HACCP (Hazard Analysis, and Critical Control Points) principles and standards. Natural gas will be the fuel of choice. The basic production capacity of the Centre will be 12,000 meals with an upper limit of 15,000 prepared using the chill/serve process. It is intended that the Centre will be able to respond to requirements in the event of a National Emergency and will have storage capability for water, fuel and supplies for three days.

182. Prior to 2008 transportation was provided at a reduced cost for Secondary School students. In 2008, the Government embarked on a new policy to provide free transportation for school students on state-owned buses. For the school year, 2009–2010, $7,050,000.00 was spent on the transportation of students under this policy. The Barbados Council for the Disabled provides free transportation for children with disabilities on a daily basis to school and special functions.

183. Teacher Training is primarily offered through the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, which facilitates the goal of staffing primary and secondary schools with professionally trained teachers. Between 1979 and 1994, the training of teachers was shared with the In-Service Department of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. Since August 1994, Erdiston College was restructured, as part of a Human Resources Project with the World Bank, to assume responsibility for the two major programmes – the Certificate of Educational Administration and the In-Service Diploma of Education. The reform strategy included a shift in approach to greater emphasis on training in the classroom with the delivery of short in-service courses aimed at the upgrading of teachers’ skills in various areas.

184. The Ministry of Education ensures that copies of the CRC are sent to schools. However, the Chief Education Officer reported that some teachers feel that it does not stress enough on the child’s responsibility but only focuses on his/her rights. Teachers are encouraged to deal with the issues relating to rights sensitively and to try to achieve a balance between rights and responsibilities. The CRC is not a compulsory document at Teacher Training level.

185. There is a Professional Development and Mentorship Programme in place. The main objective of this programme is to provide professional support and professional development opportunities for school leaders and teachers. In addition, all acting principals participate in a Mentorship Programme that allows them to benefit from the professional support of experienced colleagues. Temporary Teachers are also assigned to experienced teachers for guidance. Training opportunities include sessions such as: discipline versus punishment, strategic planning, effective leadership, business etiquette, business communication, customer service and school finances.

186. As indicated earlier, the Ministry of Education has mandated that all secondary schools should form Student Councils to enable students to participate in decision-making. The Councils are required to meet periodically with the School Boards of Management.

187. During the period under consideration, there was a sustained drive to offer early childhood education to all children. Early childhood education is offered in nursery schools, nursery units and infant departments within primary schools and at an infants’ school. However, a number of primary schools are expanding their programmes to cater to pre-school children. In 2005, under the Expansion of Nursery Programmes as part of the access to universal pre-primary education, 245 places were made available in eleven (11) schools on a pilot basis. Additional classes for the 3–5 aged groups were established in 16 schools. In 2006, an additional 100 places were made available and two Early Childhood Education Expansion centres were opened, catering to a total of 132 children.

188. The Government, recognising the importance of early childhood education, has embarked on a programme to expand the public education services in this area to supplement what is already available and what is offered by the private sector and to ensure that young children from disadvantaged social groups have free access to education. At the end of the academic year 2010/2011 approximately 1,956 children between the ages of 3 to 4 years benefitted from education at this level, offered in eight nursery schools and forty-four nursery units in public primary schools. At the end of the academic year 2009/2010 approximately 6,055 children between 4 and 5 were enrolled in seventy public primary and 1 infant school. The government is also in the process of establishing three additional nursery schools expected to be completed during the 2011/2012 financial year.

189. Barbados has attained universal coverage in primary and secondary education. The teacher to pupil ratio at the public secondary level is approximately 1:16.

190. The private nursery, primary and secondary schools provide general education similar to that in the government-operated schools. The student enrolment of these schools represents less than eight per cent of the total enrolment of public schools. Assisted private secondary schools receive government grants by way of subventions, salary grants and bursaries. Provision is made for 2,900 bursaries annually. Each year, approximately $1,735,631.00 is allocated to offer financial grants and subventions to the seven government assisted private secondary schools.

191. Private schools are monitored by the Ministry of Education through a system of registration. All private schools are requested to register their place of learning annually. They are required to submit a health and fire certificate from the respective departments and present them to the Ministry together with teaching staff and curriculum details. Education Officers are expected to visit private schools on a regular basis for monitoring purposes.

192. In keeping with Government’s pledge to make school a rewarding experience for every child and to ensure the relevance of education to the national developmental goals, the secondary education programme will be seeking to increase the number of students leaving secondary schools with adequate certification by placing particular emphasis on increasing the number of school leavers who have the appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies to successfully enter the job market or to embark on some form of economic enterprise. To ensure the achievement of this goal, the MEHR will be moving expeditiously to implement two new programmes that will guarantee all school leavers the opportunity to enhance their chances of obtaining some form of basic secondary level certification. These are the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC).

193. Children receive two assessments prior to the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE). These are called Criterion Reference Tests and are carried out when children are seven years old and again when they are nine. These tests are used to identify children’s weaknesses so that the teachers can gauge the appropriate remedial education strategies. Students who are performing at 20% or less for six consecutive terms may be allowed to be deferred from taking the BSSEE, which if necessary can be taken at the age of twelve years. Children who are dyslexic or have other special needs are given additional time to complete the examination.

194. An eleven year-old child who is found to be underperforming (i.e. performing at the level of a child aged seven), may be exempted from mainstream school and transition to a remedial (Alma Parris School) or life skills school (Ann Hill School), where he/she will remain up to the age of sixteen or later, depending on the child’s needs. On rare occasions, children have been able to transition from these institutions back into secondary schools. Some private institutions are able to accommodate children in need of alternative training and four secondary schools currently offer remedial or life skills programmes.

195. The precise number of children with disabilities in mainstream primary schools and secondary schools is not known since a survey to gather this information has never been undertaken. However, the Ministry’s Special Needs Education Services ensure that provision is made for students experiencing any of the following challenges: autism, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech and language impairment, physical impairment, learning difficulties, mental challenges and giftedness. The Special Needs Education Services focus on the identification of students for placement through multidisciplinary evaluation. Provision is made for students to be assisted with devices such as hearing aids. Special Needs Education is addressed in three ways: in the regular classroom, in the special classroom in the regular school and in the special unit or special education school.

196. At present, Special Education services are provided in specially equipped classrooms (Special Units) in the following public primary schools, namely, All Saints Primary, Charles F. Broome Primary, agle Hall Primary, Erdiston Primary, Ellerton Primary, St. Matthews Primary, St. Stephen’s Primary and Hilda Skeene Primary.

197. Children who are deaf or hearing impaired, blind or visually impaired, and children with autism spectrum disorder, attend The Irving Wilson School for the Hearing and Visually Impaired, while the Ann Hill School caters to secondary school age children with developmental delays and other disabilities. Grants are provided by the Ministry of Education to support special education programmes in the private sector: the Barbados Learning Centre, the Challenor Creative Arts and Training Centre, the Albert Graham Development Centre, and the Sunshine Village. The allocation has been increased from $750,000 to just over $1,000,000.

198. The Government has completed a seven (7) year programme to upgrade the physical environment in schools. This programme provided for improvements such as ramps and wider bathrooms. All new schools being built have these provisions while other schools are being upgraded. There are a variety of systems of non-formal education throughout the island, run by both public and private entities and covering a range of subjects.

199. The major function of the Barbados Learning Centre is to provide an environment that is conducive to the development of the latent skills that exist among children with visible and invisible learning disabilities that would prepare them for the social, educational, skill and ethical environment in which they will be required to function.

200. The Challenor Creative Arts and Training Centre (formerly Challenor School) was founded in 1964 by the Barbados Association for Mentally Retarded Children (BAMRC). BAMRC became one of the first non-profit, registered charity organizations, committed to providing services to children and young adults who were mentally challenged in Barbados. Challenor offers education and skills training for persons with various levels of functioning from the severely challenged to mild/moderate delayed, to those with multiple disabilities. Learners from age three to eighteen are enrolled in the school system at Challenor. Upon graduation those older than eighteen are engaged in the Adult Training Facility (ATF). In addition to the two units, Challenor also has a unit that offers a respite service and a house for independent living that accommodates young male graduates of the ATF.

201. The programmes in the school are now more tailored to meet the individual needs of the students, with smaller classes to ensure individualised instruction. The school also provides Care Officers to cater to many of the students’ physical needs and a Speech and Language Therapist to address difficulties and problems in this area. In addition, there are two Rehabilitation Therapy Technicians and the provision of a Multi-Sensory Room, which provides a range of stimulation or relaxation techniques for the children.

202. In March 2007 the Sunshine Village, an early stimulation centre for children with special needs was opened. Today it also includes a primary school.

203. Vocational education and training in woodwork, metalwork, technical drawing, electronics, building technology, home economics, needlework, arts and crafts are offered at all secondary schools to certificate level. The thrust of the programme is to provide a sound general education rather than training in specific job skills. The programme is also valuable in preparing students for studies at the post-secondary level.

204. The Technical and Vocational Educational and Training Council Act, 1993, was enacted to implement the training of persons for “gainful employment in occupations in all branches of economic activity in Barbados”. A National Training Board was established under the Act. The Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, established by statute, also provide education in technology and related areas, but at the post-secondary level.

Programme	Approved expenditure 2006/07	Approved expenditure 2007/08	Approved expenditure 2008/09	Approved expenditure 2009/10	Approved expenditure 2010/11
Central Administration	12 574 013	$14 290 989	14 208 018	16 753 729	19 668 408
Teacher Training	3 280 658	$2 923 235	3 892 867	4 744 399	4 465 533
Primary Education	106 291 033	$119 395 337	128 454 355	142 622 863	150 693 862
Nursery Education	1 455 723	$1 747 885	1 839 979	1 993 800	2 070 000
ESEP	20 000 000	$20 004 089	20 410 592	20 347 590	18 000 534
Secondary Education	109 011 262	$115 042 355	118 341 666	128 999 052	125 212 123
*Tertiary Education	130 823 433	$144 131 050	163 342 480	161 697 225	226 096 417
Special Services	29 773 872	$33 333 987	35 294 854	44 451 819	39 735 220
Youth Affairs and Sports/HRD	26 684 305	$29 102 936	0	0	0
Total	439 894 299	479 971 863	485 784 811	521 610 477	586 122 097

205. The Education Sector Enhancement Programme (EduTech 2000) was a seven-year programme financed by a number of institutions including the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Barbados. This project evolved out of and formed an integral part of, the government’s major overhaul and revamping of Barbados’ educational system as outlined in its White Paper on Education Reform, July 1995. The Edutech 2000 initiative aimed at the provision of a sufficiency of computers in all primary and secondary schools in Barbados for the development of both teachers and students alike so that they may be better able to participate in national development. The specific objectives of Edutech were to:

1. Prepare students who are creative, numerate, literate, well trained and readily retrainable at any point in their development;

2. Ensure that all students understand the necessity of being able to live and work harmoniously with other persons in their environments;

3. Increase the efficacy of the teaching/learning process by encouraging teachers to shift to child-centred and more collaborative forms of learning in their classrooms and,

4. Ensure that all children leave school with the basic skills and abilities that are required to participate productively in the skill and information intensive job market.

Para 117
Measures adopted, including of a legislative nature, to recognize and ensure the right of the child to rest and leisure; engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child; participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

Para 118.
(i) The proportion of the relevant overall budget allocated for children.

(ii) Cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activities, programmes or campaigns developed and provided to ensure the enjoyment of this right in family, school and community.

206. Barbados has a wide range of leisure, recreational and cultural facilities for children, young people and adults. Entities such as the media, private sector bodies, non-governmental organizations, service clubs,^[37] and community based organizations all make significant contributions to children’s well-being in this area, including children with disabilities.^[38] Some of the relevant government departments and agencies with responsibilities in this area are:

207. The Division of Youth was created as the primary governmental agency responsible for implementing Government’s mandate as it relates to the development of youth and sports. Its role is primarily facilitative and it works with governmental and non-governmental organizations, international agencies, the private sector and individuals to create and sustain a positive environment for young people. The Division seeks to:

1. Promote the holistic development of young people and in so doing contribute to the process of national development;

2. Develop a healthy, disciplined and united society through greater participation and better opportunities in sport while achieving excellence at the highest level, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, at national, regional and international levels of competitions. Providing opportunities and facilities for the fulfilment of basic social, psychological and physiological needs of individuals, including the physically and mentally challenged, through sports;

3. Provide a high level of service in the areas of coaching, provision and maintenance of sporting facilities and general sport administration in the interest of educational institutions, youth clubs and community groups and national associations, and the promotion of mass participation in the pursuit of excellence in sports.

208. The Youth Affairs Department is headed by a Director of Youth Affairs and operates through three programming channels:

209. In 2006 the Government of Barbados carried out a major public consultation to arrive at a model for the proposed National Youth Service Programme. This model makes provision for a universal voluntary programme of public service with training to address a number of national issues. The National Youth Service Programme which is currently at an advanced stage of development, following changes in the government and restructuring of ministries, will comprise:

Tier 1 – Secondary school-based citizenship education and community service which would be compulsory for all children under 16 years of age.

Tier 2 – A voluntary facility whereby all young people between 16 and 25 years of age would give 250 hours of public service over a two-year period.

Tier 3 – A residential facility to provide training to prevent at-risk and deviant young people from offending.

210. The Community Independence Celebrations Secretariat is within the Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth. The unit is mandated to develop and implement a programme which would deepen and broaden people participation in the Independence celebrations thereby contributing to participatory democracy.

(a) To encourage total community participation in the celebrations of Barbados’ nationhood;

(b) To expose and further develop the island’s enormous sporting, creative, artistic talents and abilities through organized community activities;

211. The Secretariat also helps to organize a schools outreach programme which is geared towards all primary and secondary schools. Its primary purpose is to inspire the youth of Barbados towards a sense of self-respect and to instil in them a strong sense of nationalism. Specially selected persons from within Barbadian communities are divided into teams and assigned to groups of schools. Each team is headed by a team leader and they visit schools giving motivational talks on topics such as the importance of self-esteem, deportment, pride in heritage, preservation of the environment, the uniqueness of Barbadians, the meaning of Independence and the importance of respect.

212. The Ministry of Education has launched an initiative called the Cultural and Historical Exposure for Kids in Schools (CHEKS) Programme which utilizes the performing arts including dance and drama to assist in the development of the youth and create an awareness of Barbadian indigenous culture. Through this programme the Government hopes to expose children to options which might serve to prevent them from embracing the social ills which pervade the society, thereby making them less ready to abuse drugs, sex, and negative media culture. Through the performing arts and the CHEKS programme, the Ministry is seeking to influence self-expression, teach conflict resolution, and expose children to alternative behaviour which will counteract the propensity for violence.

213. NIFCA is composed of a number of creative arts competitions which are open to all Barbadians. The competitions allow participants to showcase their skills and talents in trying to achieve the highest degree of excellence in their field. Persons compete for gold, silver or bronze medals in domains such as music, dance, drama, speech, culinary arts, literary arts, visual arts and photography. Large numbers of children participate in NIFCA annually.

214. The government of Barbados has developed as part of the national school curricula an initiative called the PEACE programme (Personal Empowerment in Arts and Creative Education) which seeks to make the arts a more integral part of the lives of all children and use the arts as a means of helping to build a society based on a culture of peace, tolerance and respect for cultural diversity. The programme extends across the age groups beginning with children in nursery school. At this level, for example, the programme uses creative expression to effectively communicate thoughts and feelings and to enhance personal and social development, as well as, use dramatic activity to help children comprehend mathematical concepts and transfer knowledge to problem-solving and decision-making experiences. It seeks to inculcate in these young children such values as consideration, respect, responsibility, punctuality, patience, cooperation, courtesy, order, time management, self-expression, creativity, and accuracy among others.

215. The Barbados Museum and Historical Society serves as the premier location for the artefacts and other aspects of the national heritage. The Museum has a wide range of exciting programmes in such areas as genealogy and archaeology and heritage displays, many of which are organized especially for the island’s school children.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 28 of the concluding observations on the initial report

216. The State party ratified ILO Convention No. 138 in the year 2000 and has amended its legislation by raising the minimum age for employment from fifteen (15) years of age to sixteen (16). Child labour does not generally occur and the Labour Department conducts spot inspections to ensure that labour laws are respected. Nevertheless, there is a public debate about what exactly constitutes child labour, especially in the context of the family setting. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1977 (sec. 3) states that no person shall employ a child or young person of compulsory school age in any undertaking whatever during school hours. (School hours are normally 8.30 a.m.–3.00 p.m.). The Act also prohibits night work for a child or young person, that is, during the period 6.00 p.m.–7.00 a.m. The result of these provisions is to emphasize the child’s education and health and to minimize working periods for children and young persons.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 29 (a) of the concluding observations on the initial report

217. In the administration of juvenile justice in Barbados, every effort is made to ensure that the rights of the child are respected and upheld. Provisions are currently made to keep 16 year olds from other criminals. Although the law states they are treated as adults, in practice Judicial Officers strive to use alternative sentences under the Penal System Reform Act (for example community service).^[39] The Juvenile Liaison Scheme is a diversionary scheme administered by the Royal Barbados Police Force and is geared towards children whose offences the police do not consider to be serious enough to warrant an arrest. The scheme offers family counselling particularly where children may be in conflict with the law or may exhibit behavioural problems that may bring them into conflict with the law. It also offers supervision services for children at home and school as well as conducts public education programmes. The specific aims of the scheme include:

(b) Diverting juvenile offenders from the rigours and traumatic experiences of the criminal justice system;

(d) Offering voluntary supervision and counselling to juveniles admitted to the scheme.

218. In accordance with the best interests of the child, the Juvenile Offenders Act, CAP 138, Section 4 (1) makes it mandatory for persons (apparently under the age of 16) who are apprehended and who cannot be taken immediately before the juvenile court be released on (recognisance), “with or without sureties being entered into by him or by his parent or guardian or other responsible person for such amount as will, in the opinion of the officer, secure the attendance of such person upon the hearing of the charge”. The exceptions to this are:

(b) Unless it is necessary in the interest of such person to remove him from association with any undesirable person; or

219. Section 4 (2) provides that if children under 16 have been apprehended and not released under the above section 4 (1), the officer of police should, instead of committing them to prison, commit him to be detained at a Reformatory and Industrial School until they can be brought before a juvenile court. The exceptions to this are:

(b) That he is of so unruly a character that he cannot safely be so detained; or

220. The Protection of Children Act, Chap. 146 A provides for the protection of children from exploitation by preventing the making of indecent photographs of them and matters related thereto.

221. The Juvenile Offenders Act, Chapter 138 defines a child as a person under the age of 14 years. As noted in Barbados’ Initial Report Para. 240, the administration of juvenile justice is premised on the fact that juvenile cases should be treated differently from those of adults. Consistent with promoting the child’s sense of dignity and worth, a special court at one of the districts has been developed to hear juvenile matters. The Juvenile Court is situated in a different building from that of the other Magistrates Courts. In addition, juvenile cases are heard at other jurisdictions with special provisions. Please also see the Initial Report, Paras. 241–242. Barbados’ entire legislative framework with respect to children is presently under review and Magistrates are for example recommending the extension of the Juvenile Offenders Act to all children under the age of eighteen. However, juvenile delinquents are not brought before the court. Records show that few children with disabilities are involved in the juvenile justice system. To continue to support this trend, the Barbados Council for the Disabled organized a Justice Improvement Programme to sensitize young people with disabilities to their rights, and to advocate for the provision of materials and resource persons in the court system to deal with deaf, blind and intellectually challenged young people.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 29 (b) of the concluding observations on the initial report

222. As indicated in Barbados’ Initial Report Paras. 244–245, a child may be deprived of his/her liberty, if found guilty in the juvenile court. Proceedings in this regard may be brought before the Juvenile Court by authorised persons such as probation Officers, any person appointed by the Government or Child Care Officers. Parents may make official complaints concerning the inappropriate and uncontrollable behaviour of their children and can appeal to the court for managing children deemed as uncontrollable. Parents can also go to the Probation Department and the Child Care Board to intervene in the situation.

223. Over the past several years, the process of adjudication has become systematic and the average remand period is about 4 weeks. This period ensures completion of the following as requested by the Juvenile Magistrate:

(b) A social enquiry report from the Probation Department, which comprises an in-depth investigation through home visits, school visits, teacher interviews etc.;

(d) Conferencing with the family, church, or school to determine if the family situation is stable enough for the child to return into the environment.

224. All of this information assists the Magistrate in making his or her decision in the best interest of the child. In some cases, the Magistrate will insist that counselling should continue during the sentence for both the parent/guardian and child. This is monitored and, in cases of breaches, the matter is re-examined by the Court.

225. The Minister of Home Affairs can at his/her discretion order that a child be released after 18 months of a custodial sentence based on strict criteria such as behaviour modification, a change in the family’s means and the child’s certification. A request for release can come from the Government Industrial School and this mechanism is utilised. However, the entire juvenile justice system and the legislative framework are presently being reviewed.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 29 (c) of the concluding observations on the initial report

226. These status offences need further explanation. No one can be charged for “talking back”, unless for example an individual verbally abuses a police officer. Moreover, in cases where the parent/guardian deems the child uncontrollable, the parent uses the Probation Department as an early intervention by approaching that department for assistance. By the time they make this decision, they have usually exhausted alternative avenues and this is usually done as a last resort. “Wandering” is semantically closer to “absconding” and is a charge used to cover a variety of circumstances in which the child may be found, such as enticing, prostitution, drug consumption and/or dealing. The child’s confidentiality is respected and he/she is removed from the stigma of the situation. In some cases, there might be incidences of incest or molestation by a family member or a neighbour. However, all cases are heard in camera and records are extinguished.

227. These children might also have learning disorders. They often come into contact with the juvenile justice system because of their behaviour at school and misdiagnosis of their symptoms. The relevant services are available and utilised at the Government Industrial School and are paid for by the state. The services include family conferences and a team comprising a psychologist, psychiatrist, social services and health services. The Government Industrial Schools is therefore not just a custodial institution but it also functions as a psychosocial and educational institution. The psychological services have been expanded over the last 5 years and are now very comprehensive. Courts also try as often as possible to assign alternative sentences such as a period of probation, alternative residential care or court supervision.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 29 (d) of the concluding observations on the initial report

228. The laws of Barbados provide for legal representation for children and can be accessed by the children’s parents. However, the government is cognizant that there is need for a separation so that representation can be provided without the parents’ intervention. It is within the discretion of the Judicial Officer to mandate that the child receives legal representation.

229. There is a system of Legal Aid offered by the Community Legal Services Department that can be accessed by the child’s parent/guardian in cases where private legal counsel cannot be afforded. There is also a mechanism for challenging the legality of the deprivation of the child’s liberty.

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 29 (e) of the concluding observations on the initial report

230. There are no current plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility further.

6. Situation and outcome for children held in the Government Industrial school and in prison

Information on the issues raised in paragraph 30 of the concluding observations on the initial report

231. Barbados is guided in its administration of juvenile justice by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Beijing Rules and Riyadh Guidelines. Although Barbados has not signed the latter two, it adheres strictly to the guarantees provided under these international instruments. This includes the child being presumed innocent until proven guilty, being informed promptly and directly about the charges made against him or her. Children are not charged unless a parent, guardian or Probation Officer is present. In addition, before the child can be accepted into custody, the Probation Officer has to consent. The name of the Probation Officer has to be included in any written communication on the matter. Once the matter goes to Court, before the case can be heard, the Probation Officer must be present. These guarantees are strictly adhered to by the Courts. The Government is also in the process of constructing a new custodial institution for juvenile offenders, which will be designed to comply with all of the recommendations of international instruments such as the Riyadh Guidelines.

232. As noted in Barbados Initial Report Para. 243, restrictions are placed on the persons who can attend juvenile proceedings to ensure that the child’s privacy and anonymity are respected at all stages of the proceedings. The right of the child to remain anonymous is also strictly upheld. Section 3 (6) of the Juvenile Offenders Act states that:

“No person shall publish the name, address, school, photograph or anything likely to lead to the identification of the child or young person before the juvenile court, save with the permission of the court or in so far as required by this Act”, subject to a fine on summary conviction.”

233. It is generally provided that no young person should be sentenced to imprisonment. However, if a young person exhibits the type of behaviour that cannot be accommodated at a place of detention for juveniles, he or she may be sent to prison. In such cases, efforts are made within the prison to ensure that the young persons and adults do not interact with each other. However, this is not an automatic process and is not taken lightly. The child has the right to maintain contact with his or her family once every two weeks. However, provision is made for continuous contact via telephone as well as family conferences.

234. The Government Industrial School (GIS) has an Advisory Board, an independent entity, which has as its mandate to advise the Principal and the Ministry of Home Affairs and to ensure the welfare of the children at the school. The Board meets every month. Complaint procedures within the school are in place for the children. Mechanisms are in place for periodic reviews of the child’s situation and education and health services are available. The Principal of the Government Industrial School in reviewing the child’s record during his/her stay at the GIS may make a recommendation to the Minister for early release.

235. Rehabilitation is an inherent principle in the juvenile justice system. Education and training are therefore part of the programme for the children at the Government Industrial School. The academic programme has been restructured over the last several years. The children sit formal examinations, for example the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). Experience has shown that many of the children progress faster while in custody than they do on the outside. This is partly as a result of the teaching style geared towards each individual’s level. Several children enter the Government Industrial School with various learning difficulties but some of these students reach a level of certification which they can use to gain employment, by the time they are ready to leave the system. There is individualized remediation and psychological counselling is also part of the programme. The children are also instructed in moral values and life skills and recreational activity is provided. Six months prior to the child’s departure for home from the Government Industrial School, he or she joins a pre-release group where there is a structured reintegration programme that involves the parents/guardians. There is an Employment Preparation Programme that includes building construction, tailoring, landscaping and gardening.

236. Children who are released from custodial care may voluntarily enter programmes offered by the Vocational Training Board, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, the Community College, the University of the West Indies, the Barbados Youth Service, Youth Mainstreaming, or Endless Possibilities – a job attachment and mentorship programme. A legal representative monitors them and provides assistance for two years following the release or up to age 19. The Government covers all of their initial expenses such as books, musical instruments, uniforms, equipment and seed money.

237. There is however a need for a residential crisis centre for the older adolescent who, for one reason or another, is unable to return or stay at home. The ongoing examination of trends in adolescent behaviour also suggests the need for an adolescent mental health facility. The Government is actively working towards establishing such a facility.

238. There are special provisions in Part IV of the Juvenile Offenders Act, Chapter 138, for proceedings in Juvenile Courts. Section 7 of this Act indicates that a child who is not, in the opinion of the court, above the age of 11 years and of sufficient capacity to commit crime, shall not be punishable for an offence. Other provisions are in Section 8 of the Act to ensure a child-oriented system as follows:

(a) Where a child or young person is brought before a juvenile court for any offence, it shall be the duty of the court as soon as possible to explain to him in simple language the substance of the alleged offence;

(b) Where a child is brought before a juvenile court for any offence other than homicide, the case shall be finally disposed of in such court, and it shall not be necessary to ask the parent whether he consents to the child being dealt with in the juvenile court;

(c) Where a young person is brought before a juvenile court for an indictable offence other than homicide, and the court becomes satisfied at any time during the hearing of the case that it is expedient to deal with it summarily, the court shall put to the young person the following or a similar question, telling him that he may consult his parent or guardian before replying –

and the Court shall explain to the young person and to his parent or guardian the meaning of being so tried and the place where the trial would be held;

(d) After explaining the substance of the alleged offence, the court shall ask the child or young person (except in cases where the young person does not wish to be tried in juvenile court) whether he admits the offence;

(e) Where the child or young person does not admit the offence, the court shall then hear the evidence of the witnesses in support thereof;

(f) At the close of the evidence-in-chief of each such witness, the court shall ask the child or young person if he wishes to put any questions to the witness;

(g) If the child or young person instead of asking questions wishes to make a statement he shall be allowed to do so and the Court may put to the child or young person such questions as may be necessary to explain anything in the statement of the child or young person;

(h) It shall be the duty of the court to put to witnesses such questions as appear to be necessary;

(i) Where it appears to the court that a prima facie case is made out, the evidence of any witnesses for the defence shall be heard and the child or young person shall be allowed to give evidence or to make any statement.

239. Section 9 (1) continues that “where the child or young person admits the offence or the court is satisfied that it is proved, he shall then be asked if he desires to say anything in extenuation or mitigation of the penalty or otherwise.”

240. A variety of relevant dispositions are in place to ensure that children are dealt with appropriately and that the necessary information is gathered to assist the court. The Juvenile Offenders Act, Section 9 states that:

(a) Before deciding how to deal with him, the court shall obtain such information as to his general conduct, home surroundings, school record, and medical history, as may enable it to deal with the case in the best interests of the child or young person and may put to him any question arising out of such information;

(b) For the purpose of obtaining such information or for special medical examination or observation, the court may from time to time remand the child or young person on bail or in custody.

241. Some of the information is collected by the Probation Department through Probationary Orders which are sometimes wide-ranging. They can include, as noted above, investigations into school and church attendance as well as psychological and psychiatric counselling of both the parent and child. This counselling can be ongoing and followed up with a review. There are some conditions precluding the child from court-sanctioned institutionalisation. A recent case is an example of this whereby the mental authorities felt that the continuing institutionalisation of the child would be detrimental to her. The alternative recommended was counselling for six months, which the parents were required to attend, as well as home schooling. New training procedures have been introduced for all officers of the court and there is ongoing training in alternative dispute resolution for all judicial officers.

242. Children above the age of 11 and below the age of 16 may be committed to the Government Industrial School and may stay until the age of 18. The population of children sent to the Government Industrial School is a transient one that is continuously shifting. There is generally a higher number of boys than girls but the margin of difference narrows periodically. Tables 28–31 indicate the numbers of males and females who were remanded between 2000 and 2010 and the number committed to the Government Industrial Schools between 2000 and 2010.

243. As stated in Barbados’ Initial Report Para. 252, the sentence of death must not be pronounced or recorded against a person under the age of 18 years. Instead, the court must sentence him to be detained in such a place and under such conditions as may be directed by the Minister, and while so detained, be deemed to be in legal custody (Juvenile Offenders Act, Section 14). This detention must be determined.

244. The government of Barbados recognizes that the future of the country is dependent on the quality of care and protection provided to children. It therefore will continue to place utmost importance on ensuring that the Convention on the Rights of the Child continues to be an important tool for guaranteeing children their rights as the fundamental basis for nurturing their survival, development, and protection. The government acknowledges that various areas discussed in this report, including legislative reform and data gathering with respect to children, are still in need of further attention, but is actively working to accomplish these reforms. Also, although the current global economic crisis and its impact locally will undoubtedly constrain the government’s desire to pursue some of the necessary changes in a timely manner, it looks forward to working closely with the various national and international stakeholder agencies to ensure that it adopts policy measures in the best interest of the children of Barbados.

Barbados Economic and Social Reports: 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006. Prepared by the Research and Planning Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs

Barbados’ Initial Report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1995)

Barbados’ Supplemental Report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1999)

Beckles, H. “A History of Barbados”, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 1990

Best, Anton. “Summary of HIV/AIDS Statistics for 2006”, HIV/AIDS Program, Ministry of Health, Government of Barbados, 2007

CADRES. Corporal Punishment and other major educational Issues in Barbados. Report on a national Survey Conducted during July 2009. Bridgetown, Barbados: Caribbean Development Research Services, 2009

Child Care Board Annual Reports: April 1, 2000 – March 31, 2001; April 1, 2001 – March 31, 2002; April 1, 2002 – March 31, 2003 and April 1, 2003 – March 31, 2004

Cummins, D. and Henry, B.I. “The Proposed National Youth Service”, Barbados, 2006

Downes, Andrew S. and Doris A. “The Millennium Development Goals: Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean – A Progress Report”, prepared for the United Nations System, Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, 2004

Government of Barbados. Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy 2011–2016. Developing National, Institutional and Human Capacity for Sustainable Growth. Prepared by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development and the Ministry of Labour, 2010

Guidelines for Handling HIV in Schools: Ministry of Education in collaboration with Ministry of Health, The National Advisory Committee on AIDS and other Participating Social Service Agencies, Barbados

Howe, G.D. “A Review /Inventory of the Literature, Laws and Policies and Institutions and Services Facilitating the Achievement and Enhancement of the Rights of the Child in Barbados”, Report prepared for UNICEF, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, 2005

Jones, Adele D. and Ena Trotman Jemmott. Perceptions of, Attitudes to, and Opinions on Child Sexual Abuse in the eastern Caribbean. UNICEF, Action for Children and the University of Huddersfield, June 2009

Lamming, G. “In the Castle of My Skin”, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 1991

Ministerial Statement on the White Paper on Persons with Disabilities: Ministry of Social Transformation

Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture, Barbados. White Paper on Education Reform – Preparing for the Twenty-first Century, 1995

Ministry of Health, Barbados, HIV/AIDS Programme: Statistical Update on HIV/AIDS in Barbados 1984–December 2005. (March 2007)

Ministry of Social Transformation, Barbados: White Paper on Persons with Disabilities

NACE. Educating in the New Century-Transforming Education for Sustainable Development. A National Consultation on Education in Barbados. Prepared by the National Advisory Commission on Education (NACE) May 2010

Patterson, O. (1967): “The Sociology of Slavery”, London, McGibbon and Kee, 1967

Report of the Inter-Ministerial Meeting on the Follow-up of the Strategies for Implementation in the White Paper on Persons with Disabilities. Ministry of Social Transformation, 2003

Report of the National Commission of Law and Order on the Draft National Plan on Justice, Peace and Security. Barbados, June 2004

Report of the National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of the Child. Barbados, 2006

Saptagiri, Lalita. “Poverty and Income Distribution in Barbados (2001-02)”. Commonwealth Secretariat, London and Ministry of Social Transformation, Government of Barbados, 2002

Smith, M.G. “The Plural Society in the British West Indies”, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1965

UNICEF. “Study of Child Vulnerability in Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines”, UNICEF – Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, 2006

UNIFEM. “The Administration of Family Justice: Child Support, Shared Family Responsibilities and Gender Equality, Barbados Research Report”, 2006

Walrond, E.R. “Legal, Ethical and Socio-Economic Issues Relevant to HIV/AIDS in Barbados, 2004

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Real Growth (%)	4.0	5.7	1.7	0.1	-3.7	0.2	0.5
Tradables (%)	-0.8	8.1	-7.3	-0.3	-4.3	-0.4	-1.9
Nontradables (%)	5.6	5.0	4.5	0.2	-3.6	0.4	1.2
Inflation (%)	6.1	7.3	4.0	8.1	3.6	5.8	8.7
Unemployment (%)	9.1	8.7	7.4	8.1	10.0	10.8	11.9

International Reserves ($ Million)	1 253.7	1 194.1	1 550.1	1 359.2	1 487.8	1 434.9	1 419.9
Foreign Exchange Reserves cover, weeks	15.4	16.0	20.9	16.4	21.1	18.4	18.0
BoP current account (as % GDP)	-10.6	-8.4	-5.5	-11.2	-7.1	-6.1	-7.9
Net capita inflows	661.9	709.9	1020.2	546.1	731.7	512.1	711.3

Debt (as % of GDP), Gross*	63.0	64.3	68.9	76.4	85.6	98.5	95.9
Debt (as % of GDP), Net*	29.5	34.3	36.4	38.2	44.8	51.1	47.3
External debt service to BoP current account credits	5.4	5.6	4.2	5.8	5.8	13.3#	6.0
Govt. interest payments (as % of revenue)	14.4	14.2	12.9	15.7	17.5	21.1	21.7

Treasury-bill rate	6.26	6.56	4.90	4.81	3.44	3.35	3.45
US treasury-bill rate	3.99	4.89	3.29	0.11	0.06	0.12	0.02
Average deposit rate**	4.12	5.11	4.80	4.07	2.65	2.69	2.65
Average loan rate**	10.63	10.87	10.68	10.25	9.66	9.39	9.34

Fiscal Year	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	Apr–Dec 2010/11	Apr–Dec 2011/12
Fiscal Deficit (% of GDP)	-2.3	-2.8	-3.3	-5.3	-7.9	-8.7	-7.4	-4.8
Fiscal Current Account (as % of GDP)	2.0	1.5	-0.2	-2.2	-5.6	-7.0	-5.8	-3.5
Revenue (as % of GDP)	27.6	26.6	27.6	29.9	26.4	27.5	25.8	24.6
Expenditure (as % of GDP)	29.9	29.4	30.9	35.2	34.3	36.2	33.2	29.4
Govt. interest payments (as % of GDP)	13.8	14.7	13.9	15.3	18.8	22.5	24.8	23.7

* Represents Central Government debt inclusive of Public Private Partnership (PPP) guaranteed debt.

*** The average rate of unemployment for the first three quarters of 2011 was 11.5%.

# Exclusive of the US $100M repayment of a short term loan this ration would be 9.2 for 2010.

Residents	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Male	15	15	15	10	15	18	5	21	8	6	7
Female	7	8	9	10	4	6	12	15	11	11	8
Total	22	23	24	20	19	24	17	36	19	17	15

Offences	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Assault/Bodily Harm	10	15	17	13	13	6	10	10	10	6	10
Asst. with investigations	1	3	1	4	4	0	0	2	0	-	1
Bomb Threats	-	-	-	-	0	0	0	3	0	-	-
Breach Probation	1	8	5	2	12	7	10	4	3	3	5
Breaking and Entering	-	-	-	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	2
Causing Disturbance/Violent Disorder	-	1	-	1	0	2	0	0	1	-	-
Criminal Damage	2	3	4	3	5	3	2	3	2	2	2
Escape legal custody	-	-	-	-	1	0	1	0	0	-	-
Failure to attend court	-	-	-	1						2	-
Firearm use	-	-	3	1						2	-
Harassment	-	-	-	-	1	0	0	0	0	-	-
House used for prostitution	-	-	-	-	1	0	0	0	0	-	-
Ill treatment by father	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Insulting Language	-	-	1	1	3	2	1	0	0	-	-
Larceny/Sacrilege	-	-	-	-	0	2	6	7	2	-	-
Murder / Manslaughter	-	-	-	-	1	0	0	0	0	1	1
Offensive Weapon	3	2	1	1	7	4	1	0	0	-	-
Possession Controlled Substance	4	6	8	8	8	5	3	5	4	11	5
Protection Order	-	-	-	-	1	0	0	0	0	-	-
Rape/Unlawful Sexual Intercourse	-	1	1	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	-
Refractory Behaviour	-	3	-	2	2	9	4	1	1	2	1
Resisting Arrest	-	-	2	-						-	-
Robbery	8	3	2	1	7	0	0	0	1	2	1
Serious Indecency/Indecent Assault	-	-	-	-	1	0	4	2	1	-	-
Theft / Burglary	19	18	19	23	27	24	19	14	16	17	13
Threats	4	4	4	5	3	5	5	1	4	2	5
Traffic Violation	-	-	1	1	0	1	1	0	0	-	-
Trespassing/Loitering	-	5	11	3	3	0	0	0	2	18	2
Violation of Bail	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wandering	8	15	13	13	18	23	14	26	20	14	13
Warrant of Arrest	-	-	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-
Wounding	5	2	2	2	5	6	4	5	3	-	4

Offences	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Assault/Bodily Harm	-	7	5	3	6	4	1	3	3	-	-
Asst. with investigations	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Breach Probation	4	1	-	3	6	1	4	6	4	6	2
Burglary	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Causing Dist./V. Disorder	1	3	-	2	2	-	5	1	1	-	-
Criminal Damage	-	1	-	-	1	1	1	-	-	-	1
Failure to attend court	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fraud	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Insulting Lang./Threats	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	3	-	-	-
Larceny	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Living in Circumstances	-	-	-	5	-	2	1	4	-	4	1
Murder	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Offensive Weapon	-	-	-	2	2	-	1	-	-	-	-
Possession Controlled Substance	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	1
Protection Order	1	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-
Refractory Behaviour	-	2	3	-	-	2	3	1	1	1	-
Theft/Shoplifting	1	1	-	-	2	2	-	-	4	-	-
Threats	-	-	-	5	1	-	-	-	2	-	2
Traffic Violation	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Trespassing	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wandering	18	29	21	29	27	26	29	35	30	25	36
Wounding	1	-	-		2	-	1	-	2	5	1

GIS committed residents as at 16 May 2011, disaggregated by type of crime committed

Offences Boys	Frequency
Wandering	8
Refractory Behaviour	5
Serious Bodily Harm	5
Breach of Probation	7
Possession of Cannabis	2
Assault	1
Trespassing	2
Property Damage	1
Theft/Robbery	2
Threats	1

Offences Girls	Frequency
Wandering	8
Refractory Behaviour	5
Theft	5
Breach of Probation	7
Causing a Disturbance	2

^[1] Howe, G.D. A Review/Inventory of the Literature, Laws and Policies and Institutions and Services Facilitating the Achievement and Enhancement of the Rights of the Child in Barbados, Review conducted for UNICEF Barbados and Eastern Caribbean. 2005, p. 8.

^[2] (UNICEF Study of Child Vulnerability in Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2006, p. 8.

^[4] The Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth is responsible for a broad range of areas including, ecclesiastical affairs, HIV/AIDS awareness and education, gender affairs, the national AIDS Commission, child care and the child care board, family affairs, bureau of gender affairs, cultural affairs, libraries and museums, sports, and youth development.

^[5] The Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development is responsible for welfare services, constituency councils, the welfare department, disability unit, the national assistance board, poverty alleviation bureau, bureau of social policy, social investment fund, poverty eradication fund, the community development department, and connect Barbados.

^[6] See for example, M. G. Smith. The Plural Society of the British West Indie, 1965; Frantz Fanon. Black Skin, White Masks, 1967; and George Lamming. In the Castle of My Skin, 1991.

^[8] A census was conducted in 2010 but at the time of preparing this report (February 2012) the results had not yet been released.

^[10] See, Tracy Robinson, Legislative Reform Initiative: National Study of Barbados. Report prepared for UNICEF 2004

^[11] Some limited reviews have been conducted by such agencies as the Child Care Board and the Family Law Council. See Ibid, p.40.

^[12] Tracey Robinson. Legislative Reform Initiative, Phase II: National Study of Barbados. UNICEF, 2004; A Review of Child Labour Laws of Barbados: A Guide to Legislative Reform. ILO, 2005; Study of Child Vulnerability in Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, UNICEF, 2006; Attitudes towards Corporal Punishment in Barbados, UNICEF, 2004; Child Sexual Abuse in the Eastern Caribbean (UNICEF, University of Huddersfield, and Action for Children) 2009.

^[13] DevInfo is a powerful database system developed by UNICEF and used globally to compile and disseminate data on human development, and to support informed decision making.

^[14] Cummins, D. and Henry, B.I. “The Proposed National Youth Service”, Barbados. October 2006).

^[15] Tracy Robinson, Legislative Reform Initiative: National Study of Barbados. Report prepared for UNICEF 2004.

^[17] In 2008 the Government of Barbados began establishing Constituency Councils which had as their core functions: building relevant data bases; identifying the priority needs of the constituency; advising central government on programmes and projects to be pursued; supporting and building the capacity of local organizations to achieve their goals; executing, when necessary, identified priority programmes and projects; and facilitating the flow of information to and from Central Government that is relevant to every day life in the constituency. See http://www.councils.gov.bb/cms/.

^[19] CADRES. Corporal Punishment and other major educational Issues in Barbados. Report on a national Survey Conducted during July 2009. Bridgetown, Barbados: Caribbean Development Research Services, 2009.

^{[20 ]} Adele D Jones and Ena Trotman Jemmott. Perceptions of, Attitudes to, and Opinions on Child Sexual Abuse in the eastern Caribbean. UNICEF, Action for Children and the University of Huddersfield, June 2009.

^{[21 ]} The Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) comprises 19 affiliates who all focus on a variety of persons with disabilities and work to complement the goals and activities of the BCD in advocacy, research, implementation of projects which benefit all persons with disabilities.

^[23] Key Health Indicators under the priority of Family Health; Barbados Strategic Plan for Health 2002 to 2012.

^[24] P....... means provisional data; Statistics up to 2006 have been published in the Annual Reports of the Chief Medical Officer.

^[25] P....... means provisional data; Statistics up to 2006 have been published in the Annual Reports of the Chief Medical Officer.

^[26] n.a. means data are not available.

^[27] CICAD (The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission). (2010). Comparative analysis of student drug use in Caribbean Countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname: A Report on Student drug use in 12 Caribbean Countries.

^{[28 ]} Project SOFT aims to: sensitize participants to the multiple factors that places them at risk for deviance; introduce alternative activities to drug use and deviant behaviour; educate participants about the dangers associated with the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs; introduce participants to information that would teach them how to cope with stress and conflict, and to resist peer pressure; sensitize participants to the dynamics of secondary school; educate the participants about their bodies and the importance of a healthy lifestyle; and provide the participants with an opportunity to express their ideas and opinions in a therapeutic and caring environment.

^[29] UNGASS Country Progress Report Barbados 2010, p. 17–18.

^[30] Ibid.

^[31] Ibid., pp. 13–15.

^[32] The ISEE Bridge Project is an adaptation of the Chilean Puente (Bridge) Social Protection programme which was instituted by the Chilean Government in 2002 to empower families in extreme poverty. It is managed by the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development.

^[33] Interview with representative of Ministry of Social Transformation, July 2007.

^[34] SALISES. Barbados Country Assessment of Living Conditions 2010: 2nd Draft Report on the Survey of Living Conditions. Report submitted to the Government of Barbados, National Assessment Team and the Caribbean Development Bank on behalf of the Team of Consultants by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, September 2011.

^{[35 ]} Some idea of this contribution may be gauged from the following documents: Sub-regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS, The UN Development System for the Eastern Caribbean January 2000; Myrtle D. Bishop. Strategies of the Poor Woman for the Survival of the Family in Barbados, Report prepared for UNICEF, January 1989; IADB. Poverty and Income Distribution in Barbados 1996-1997, Report prepared for IADB by Rafael Diez de Medina, October 1998; and Poverty and Income Distribution in Barbados (2001-02), Report prepared for Commonwealth Secretariat and Ministry of Social Transformation by Lalita Saptagiri.

^[36] Government of Barbados. Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy 2011-2016. Developing National, Institutional and Human Capacity for Sustainable Growth. Prepared by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development and the Ministry of Labour, 2010; NACE. Educating in the New Century-Transforming Education for Sustainable Development. A National Consultation on Education in Barbados. Prepared by the National Advisory Commission on Education (NACE) May 2010.

^[37]For example, the Rotary Clubs in Barbados in association with the Barbados Council for the Disabled will soon be opening an “Inclusive Play Centre” at the nation’s main sporting arena (the Wildey Sports Complex) which will provide special recreation facilities for children with disabilities, as well as their able peers.

^[38] These entities have been important in supporting the Special Olympics. Some of the athletes from these games have also obtained medals in international competitions.

^[39] The Penal System Reform Act 1998 Chap 139 provides for suspended sentencing, curfew orders, mediation and community service sentences for criminal offenders. Mediation permits young offenders to make amends to a complainant by performing unpaid work, paying compensation, or participating in a rehabilitation programme.

WorldLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNCRCSPR/2015/16.html

	United Nations	CRC/C/BRB/2
	Convention on the Rights of the Child		Distr.: General 4 May 2015 Original: English English, French and Spanish only

Year	Number	Per 1 000
1997	40	10.6
1998	39	10.9
1999	50	12.8
2000	50	13.4
2001	60	14.7
2002	50	13.3
2003	53	14.3
2004	37	10.1
2005	51	14.2
2006	57	16.2
2007	66	18.1
2008	48	13.1
2009	39	10.9
2010^P	47	13.7

Year	No. of foetal deaths	No. death <7 days	*Total births*	Perinatal mortality rate
2001	52	37	4 127	21.6
2002	42	22	3 790	16.9
2003	45	25	3 757	18.6
2004	42	20	3 694	16.8
2005	28	30	3 612	16.1
2006	34	36	3 559	19.1
2007	34	34	3 686	18.4
2008	42	24	3 706	17.8
2009	24	21	3 596	12.5
2010^P	36	30	3 459	19.1

Year	Neonatal death (<28dys)	Live births	Neonatal mortality rate
2001	43	4 075	10.5
2002	33	3 748	8.8
2003	32	3 712	8.6
2004	24	3 652	6.6
2005	42	3 584	11.7
2006	45	3 525	12.8
2007	54	3 652	14.8
2008	37	3 664	10.1
2009	31	3 572	8.7
2010^P	40	3 423	11.7

United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child - States Parties Reports

Barbados - Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention: Second periodic reports of States parties due in 1997 [2015] UNCRCSPR 16; CRC/C/BAR/2-5 (4 May 2015)