Dominica has entered another stage in the process leading to the adoption of OECS harmonized Family Model Bills.The Ministries of Justice, Immigration and National Security along with Social Services, Family and Gender affairs will host, jointly, a one-day consultation on Monday May 21st, 2016 at the APU Conference Room.
The event will bring stakeholders together to discuss and make recommendations on the four Bills which are: the Draft Model Children (Care and Adoption) Bill, The Child Justice Bill; (3) Domestic Violence Bill and (4) Status of Children Bill. An assessment of the region’s laws and existing legal provisions led to the drafting of modern Bills for enactment by the OECS Member States.
In order to get a full overhaul of all the Bills, the consultation will consider the views of a number of participants including social workers, lawyers, law enforcement officials, members of the judiciary and the youth.
Following the consultation, final drafts of the Bills will be adopted by the Ministry of Justice, Immigration and National Security and will bring Dominica closer to the Parliamentary process for enactment.
Facilitator for the consultation is Legal Consultant Mrs. Elliott Mac Clure from St. Lucia, whose services were obtained under the OECS Secretariat and USAID Juvenile Justice Reform Project.
I would have thought that the key “stakeholders” are parents, but I don’t see them mentioned.
I really regret being out of State for this important consultation. Lifeline applauds this initiative to update the laws of Dominica as they relate to children. Let us hope that this heralds the introduction of a Family Court and the processing of the hundreds of cases pending in the DPPs office. Victims of Child Abuse please continue to report and disclose in spite of the failures of the system. The Truth shall set you free in so many ways.