The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) hereby presents the Combined Initial, Second, Third, Fourth,
Fifth and Sixth Report in accordance with Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women. This first report covers the period 1982 to 2002. In
preparing the report, Saint Lucia has regarded the Committee’s Revised Reporting Guidelines,
effective December 31, 2002.
The report comprises two (2) parts. The first part provides the general background to the country,
establishing the legal, administrative and constitutional framework within which the terms of the
Convention will be implemented. The second part of the report provides specific information relating
to the implementation of individual Articles of the Convention. Much of the data has come from
Census and Survey Reports, Labour Reports, Economic and Social Reviews and the Annual Statistical
Digest of the Ministry of Education. Consultations have also been conducted with individuals, private
and public sector organizations.
The Government of Saint Lucia ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women in 1982. The Convention came into force on November 7, 1982.
However, it was only with the establishment of the Women’s Desk within the Ministry of Community
Development, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs in 1986 that an interest in the ratification process and a
commitment to comply with the provisions of the Convention emerged.
Saint Lucia looks forward to discussing this Report with the Committee on CEDAW.