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Barbados
| Indicator |
Ca. 1994 |
Ca. 2004 |
| Total population |
262,653 |
270,415 |
| Average population growth rate |
0.3 |
0.6 |
| Total fertility rate |
1.7 |
1.8 |
| % births with skilled attendants |
|
91 |
| GDP per capita PPP $ US |
|
8,922 |
| Mortality |
| Infant mortality per 1000 live births |
13.0 |
14.7 |
| Life expectancy males |
68.3 |
71 |
| Life expectancy females |
75.3 |
77.6 |
| Maternal mortality ratio |
70 |
20 |
| Education |
| Primary enrollment (net) males |
100.7 |
100.7 |
| Primary enrollment (net) females |
99.1 |
99.9 |
| Secondary enrollment (net) males |
95.7 |
97.2 |
| Secondary enrollment (net) females |
97.5 |
95.3 |
| Reproductive health |
| Births per 1000 women aged 15-19 |
15.8 |
15.1 |
| Contraceptive prevalence |
53.2 |
|
| HIV prevalence rate (%) |
|
0.96 |
Laws enacted
- The Constitution (Amendment) Act 2000-18, gives women equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of the children. Women’s rights to equal participation and freedom of assembly and association are guaranteed under the Constitution of Barbados.
- The 1992 Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, provides for the granting of protection orders in circumstances surrounding domestic violence and for related matters.
- The Sexual Offences Act CAP 154 of 1992 provides legislation that effectively curbs the incidence of trafficking in women and girls.
- The Education Act of 1991 CAP 41 – states that “The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall ensure that the child receives full time education suitable to his age and ability.
- The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1983-4 provided several avenues through which women could have access to safe abortion, and continued to be in effect after 1994 up to the present.
- Article 11, Sec. 2: Right to Protection of Health and Safety in working conditions include Maternity leave; special protection for pregnant women; support families. Sec. 14: Provision of health care services, including information, counseling and family planning services. Legal age of consent is 16 years.
Policies Implemented
- The Draft of the National Policy on Aging, under the Ministry of Social Transformation was established in 2001.
- Establishment of management structure to coordinate the National AIDS Program to reduce and manage HIV/AIDS. The National HIV/AIDS Commission has identified a three-prong approach: prevention, care and support and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The national AIDS Program places great emphasis on prevention programs with education being pivotal. Scaled-up VCT and condom programs also serve to reduce STIs and HIV/AIDS.
- In 1995 the Government implemented a policy where the drug Zidovadine (AZT) was administered at the 14thweek of pregnancy to women who tested positive for the AIDS virus.
- National Committee on Ageing established in 2001.
Partnerships established
- RH commodities come through IPPF as part of their grant to the BFPA.
- A Victim Support Service has been established by the Police Department. It is known that the Police are in direct contact with some agencies and organizations that provide assistance to female victims of abuse.
- Establishment of National Advisory Commission on HIV/AIDS, which coordinates the efforts of all agencies with regards to HIV/AIDS, agencies and organisations both in private, governmental, NGOs, Churches etc.
- Provision of emergency contraception considered by Government; available through BFPA.
Continuing challenges
The right of Barbadian women to have full control over their own bodies is not a fundamental concept. For example, husbands cannot be charged with marital rape unless there has been a breakdown in the marital relationship. This has implications for women and the spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs.
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