June 2012


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Fearsome findings

SITUATION ANALYSIS OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

A UNICEF Report

By the HEU, Centre for Health Economics, UWI

At the most general level there are three main findings of this Report. The first is that from the point of view of appropriate legislation to protect children and women the country is in very good shape. The second is that in spite of the excellent legislative frameworks in place there are instances of horrendous violation of the human rights of children and women. The third finding is that Trinidad and Tobago has the potential to address the main areas of violation of rights.

When these findings are put together it becomes obvious that how we fare as far as respect for the rights of women and children is concerned really depends on the attitudes espoused by the population and the priority given by the government to the protection of the rights of the vulnerable.

An initial review of the legislation in place to protect the rights of women and children showed that almost everything required was in place: we were in very good compliance with the major UN human rights standards. This was true in respect of both the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

With the Children’s Authority Amendment Bill 2008, the Domestic Violence Act of 1999, and the Sexual Offences Act of 1986, all in place, Trinidad and Tobago could certainly be considered a country committed to looking after its children and women.

This is why it was something of a surprise to find that the country had one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the region. It was also worrying to note that more than half of all male students were involved in a fight, and more than 20 percent of students reported instances of bullying. Perhaps the most distressing finding of all was the number of cases of child abuse reported in calls to main NGO (ChildLine) dealing with this problem. Linked to this was the finding that there were children aged between 10 and 16 living on the streets, a phenomenon caused by parental substance abuse or physical and sexual abuse.

The reality is that the violation of the rights of children is very much a part of the social landscape in Trinidad and Tobago.

However, the Report is by no means a document of doom and gloom. The country’s very high per capita income of more than TT$ 100 thousand means that Trinidad and Tobago has the economic capacity to do much better in respect of its treatment of children and women. It is also true that public policy is now showing a greater awareness of the problems, and measures are being put in place to address them. It was therefore not a surprise that most of the young people interviewed for the Report were generally positive about the society and looked forward to a better future.

The first main recommendation of the Report was a call for more collaboration between government and the NGOs in an effort to make Trinidad and Tobago a genuinely caring society. Complementing this is the need for the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that it is getting value for money in its social spending since children and women are usually important beneficiaries here. Where resources are scarce, it becomes essential that they be used efficiently and that we get the most for whatever is spent.