Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia has done a lot for children in recent years. Among other things, some councils and parliaments have been introduced where children and young people can voice their opinions. However, there is still a lack of implementation of the proposals. Less positive is the finding that an increasing percentage of households are classified as poor.

While Saint Lucia has a stipulated age of consent for girls with regard to sexual relations, there is not one for boys, which puts them at increased risk of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Children with disabilities are not effectively integrated into all areas of social life and there are just a few sufficient and adequate facilities for them. To improve the situation of children with disabilities, the Committee recommends to ensure that schools provide inclusive education and take all the necessary measures to ensure that children with disabilities are fully integrated into all areas of social life.

The Committee is concerned about the state of prenatal and postnatal care, the increase in the number of children born with low birth weight, the increasing infant mortality rate, and the large number of children classified as overweight or obese. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of education programmes for basic child health, and the lack of developmental paediatricians for children with developmental disabilities on the island.
Therefore, the Committee recommends to continue to increase efforts to ensure adequate provision of prenatal and postnatal care, and address the increasing number of children born with low birth weight, the increasing infant mortality rate, and obesity among children, through awareness-raising efforts, and the reasons for these trends.

Concerning drug and substance abuse, the Committee recommends that the State party strengthen measures to address alcohol abuse and drug use by children and adolescents, through education programmes and campaigns.

Saint Lucia has a National Mental Wellness Centre and has undertaken a review of its mental health system. To further improve the situation, the Committee recommends that the State party strengthen available quality services and programmes of mental health for children.

The Committee is concerned that natural disasters have the potential to undermine the social safety net of Saint Lucia, with negative consequences for children and families exposed to poverty. To better protect children, the Committee recommends that the State party develop strategies to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks for children and families which may be produced or exacerbated by climate change.

The Committee is concerned about the persistence of child labour in the informal economy and recommends to take measures to prevent children from being economically exploited.

The Juvenile justice system of Saint Lucia should be brought into line with the Convention. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt a holistic and preventive approach to addressing the problem of juvenile offenders and the underlying social factors.

The Ministry of Social Transformation, Local Government and Community Empowerment has initiated a child- and gender-sensitive social protection reform.

Concluding observations on the second to fourth periodic reports released on 8 July 2014. More information about education: Education Law and Early childhood education