United Nations CRC/C/BRB/2 Convention on the Distr.: General 4 May 2015 Rights of the Child Original: English English, French and Spanish only Committee on the Rights of the Child Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention Second periodic reports of States parties due in 1997 Barbados* [Date received: 25 February 2014] * The present document is being issued without formal editing. GE.15-08849 (E) CRC/C/BRB/2 Contents Paragraphs Page List of tables ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Foreword ................................................................................................................. 1–2 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3–10 6 I. General measures of implementation ..................................................................... 11–28 10 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 C. Children’s Desk in the Ombudsman’s Office ................................................. 21 13 D. Systematic gathering of statistical data regarding children ............................. 22–23 13 E. Allocation of resources for the implementation of the Convention ................ 24 14 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 II. Definition of the child ............................................................................................ 29–33 16 III. General principles ................................................................................................... 34–52 18 A. Implementation of the principle of non-discrimination .................................. 34–36 18 B. Measures taken to address discrimination based on gender ............................ 37–44 19 C. Best interests of the child ................................................................................ 45–48 21 D. Right to life, survival and development .......................................................... 49 21 E. Respect for the views of the child ................................................................... 50–52 22 IV. Civil rights and freedoms ........................................................................................ 53–54 22 A. Traditional social attitudes towards children .................................................. 53 22 B. The use of flogging of children as a disciplinary measure in prisons and as a judicial sentence ...................................................................................... 54 23 V. Family environment and alternative care ............................................................... 55–101 23 A. Parental guidance and responsibilities ............................................................ 55–79 23 B. Children deprived of their family environment, foster care and periodic review of placement ........................................................................................ 80–87 29 C. Discipline and punishment in schools ............................................................. 88–95 31 D. Child abuse ..................................................................................................... 96–101 33 VI. Basic health and welfare ......................................................................................... 102–170 35 A. Disabled children and inclusion in mainstream services ................................ 102–116 35 B. Health-care services ........................................................................................ 117–139 41 C. Adolescent health ............................................................................................ 140–149 47 2 CRC/C/BRB/2 D. HIV/AIDS and children: situation, prevention and treatment ......................... 150–167 50 E. Social security and child care facilities/services ............................................. 168 56 F. Adequate standard of living ............................................................................ 169–170 56 VII. Education, leisure and cultural activities ................................................................ 171–215 58 A Education system and reforms ........................................................................ 171–174 58 B. Education budget ............................................................................................ 175–182 60 C. Teacher training .............................................................................................. 183–186 62 D. Early childhood education (3–5 years) ........................................................... 187–188 63 E. Public and private primary and secondary education ..................................... 189–192 63 F. Secondary school entrance exams .................................................................. 193–194 64 G. Special needs education services .................................................................... 195–202 64 H. Alternative vocational and technical training ................................................. 203–205 65 I. Leisure, recreation and cultural activities ....................................................... 206–215 66 VIII. Special protection measures ................................................................................... 216–244 69 A. Child labour .................................................................................................... 216 69 B. Administration of juvenile justice ................................................................... 217–237 69 C. Other information ........................................................................................... 238–243 73 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 244 75 References ........................................................................................................................................ 76 Annex Additional tables .............................................................................................................................. 78 3 CRC/C/BRB/2 List of tables Table 1. Population of Barbados (2000) Table 2. Child abuse statistics, 1997–2010 Table 3. Persons registered at the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre, 2005– 2010 Table 4. New referrals to the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre Table 5. Children with disabilities in Special Education Units 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 8. Graduates of the sign language classes Table 9. Infant mortality rates, 1997–2008 Table 10. Perinatal mortality rates, 2001–2008 Table 11. Neonatal mortality rates, 2001–2008 Table 12. Immunization coverage for children under age 1 Table 13. Immunization coverage (%) of children < 5 years Table 14. Low birth weight babies Table 15. Number and percentage of teenage deliveries 1997–2008 Table 16. Reported HIV cases by age group up to 19 years Table 17. HIV prevalence in Barbados based on known cases (2008) Table 18. Government financial commitment for HIV Table 19. HIV among pregnant women Table 20. HIV among pregnant women 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 23. Education assistance from the Welfare Department Table 24. Welfare Department monetary assistance Table 25. Primary and secondary school enrolments, public and private Table 26. Ministry of Education-approved expenditure Table 27. Barbados economic indicators, 2005–2011 Table 28. Number of male and female residents at GIS Table 29. Offences for which remanded males were charged by year Table 30. Offences for which remanded females were charged 4 CRC/C/BRB/2 Table 31. GIS committed residents as at 16 May 2011, disaggregated by type of crime committed 5 CRC/C/BRB/2 Foreword 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)