UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 57) Since its first UPR review, the Government of St Kitts and Nevis has held consultations with a large cross section of the society including persons with disabilities to assess the needs of this group of individuals, usually considered as a marginalized group.

Para 58) The aim was to more fully engage persons with disabilities and their representatives to discuss the international CRPD.

UN Compilation:
Para 1) The United Nations subregional team for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) noted that, during the 2011 universal periodic review of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the country received numerous recommendations to ratify or accede to various international human rights treaties and that, although Saint Kitts and Nevis accepted some of those recommendations, it had not ratified any additional core United Nations international human rights treaties.

Para 2) OECS encouraged Saint Kitts and Nevis to accede to all core United Nations human rights instruments as soon as possible, in accordance with the recommendations issued in the 2011 universal periodic review. It indicated that the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis had not yet acceded to OP-CRC-SC, although this recommendation had been accepted during the 2011 universal periodic review.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 1) Amnesty International (AI) stated that during its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in January 2011, Saint Kitts and Nevis had accepted recommendations to consider the ratification of the ... OP-CRC-SC ... and to review national legislation to ensure compliance with the principles and provisions of the Convention. AI highlighted that despite this commitment, at the time of writing, Saint Kitts and Nevis had not yet ratified these Optional Protocols.

Para 2) AI stated that in its first review, Saint Kitts and Nevis had not expressed a clear position on recommendations to consider signing and ratifying a number of core international human rights standards, including ICESCR ... AI asserted that the government had taken no action in this respect, and that the ratification of these treaties was still outstanding.

Para 3) JS2 reported that subsequent to UPR 2011 the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis had promised to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and that this was still pending. It considered that in so doing the Government had largely failed to adequately promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities as per recommendation 76.30 delivered in its UPR 2011

National Report:
Para 43) Domestic violence is the most common form of gender-based violence which predominantly affects women and girls. Within the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, several institutions and agencies are involved in providing service to victims of domestic violence, facilitating the report of incidents to the relevant authorities.
Para 44) Through assistance from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), The Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Complaints and Response Protocol was launched in November, 2018. The policy educates key stakeholders in the healthcare, education, childcare, social support, legal and criminal justice system sectors and provides guidelines for training on the appropriate procedures to follow when a crime of this nature materializes. It addresses first response procedures, best practices for law enforcement, emergency and medical services, social services, victim advocacy and legal action. The Department of Gender Affairs has held various sensitization workshops, consultations and panel discussions, aimed at increasing the awareness of stakeholders about this Response Protocol and its use throughout 2019. Para 45) Saint Kitts and Nevis is also an avid participant of the annual 16-day campaign on Violence against Women and Girls. The 16-Day Campaign which was observed in the Federation from November 25 to December 10, 2019 was designed to demonstrate solidarity with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, raise awareness, prevent the occurrence wherever possible, and advocate for relief and justice for the victims.
Para 46) In 2018, the Special Victims Unit (SVU) relocated to a more conducive, safe and comfortable space for victims to report incidents of sexual violence without fear of reprisals. In addition, the Department of Gender Affairs in partnership with several faith-based organisations, provide financial support and temporary shelters for victims of domestic violence who have no alternate housing solution. This rental allowance covers a period of three months.
Para 47) Different public campaigns were also lead by the Ministry of Gender Affairs which featured primarily on popular call-in radio programmes. Guest panelists included staff from the Special Victims Unit of the Royal Saint Christopher and Nevis Police Force, and the National Men’s Council.
Para 48) Collaboration with the Ministry of Education resulted in the involvement of primary school children in public service announcements to condemn domestic violence and promote a kinder, gentler society; and secondary school children in public awareness raising activities, such as marches and street theatre.
Para 83) … the Ministry [of Social Services] has a directory of private lawyers who have indicated an interest in providing pro-bono services to victims of domestic violence.

UN Compilation:
Para 15) The subregional team stated that societal negative attitudes towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community impeded the operation of organizations working for such individuals and their free association. It asserted that public discourse on the rights of such individuals indicated that there remained strong sentiment against homosexuality and gay marriage, and reported that the former Prime Minister had publicly advocated a review of the country's anti-sodomy laws and tolerance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals

Stakeholder Summary
Para 10) JS2 reported that during the 2011 review, despite several recommendations made to decriminalize consensual same sex relations, Saint Kitts and Nevis stated that a popular "mandate" was necessary for state protection of the rights of sexual minorities, and that continued criminalization of consensual sex under sections 56 and 57 of the Offences against the Person Act was justified because of "strong opposition" by citizens to repeal these laws.