Grenada

Grenada is a country consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. After centuries of colonial rule under France and subsequently Britain, Grenada became a fully independent state in February 1974.

Grenada is now a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The Governor General represents the British monarch,
and the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that wins the majority of seats in elections.[ref]https://gov.gd/ogg/governor-general-role[/ref] It is a member of the Commonwealth.[ref]https://thecommonwealth.org/member-countries[/ref]  It is a participating member of the Caribbean Community and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.[ref]https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/grenada/[/ref]

According to the most recent census data (2011), over 85% of Grenada’s population are Christian, with Protestants accounting for 49.2%, and Roman Catholics 36%. Many other religions including Hinduism, Rastafarianism and Islam make up for a small percentage of inhabitants.[ref]https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/grenada/[/ref] Grenada has a small, but growing non-religious population (5.7%, reported in 2011, compared with 3.7% in 2001) of the population reported being non-religious.[ref]https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/presentations/data-disaggregation-grenada-central-statistical-office.pdf[/ref]

Use of Conscientious Objection clauses resulting in the denial of lawful services to women and LGBTI+ people
Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools with no secular or humanist alternative
Insufficient information or detail not included in this report
Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

Countries: Kazakhstan

The state is secular, with separation of religious and political authorities, not discriminating against any religion or belief
Insufficient information or detail not included in this report
No fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression or advocacy of humanist values
Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

No condition holds in this strand
No condition holds in this strand

Countries: Andorra

No condition holds in this strand
Religious courts or tribunals rule directly on some family or ‘moral’ matters; it is legally an opt-in system, but the possibility of social coercion is very clear
No condition holds in this strand

Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious

This condition is unusual in that it is applied in cases where there is some social discrimination, but it is not pervasive or nationwide. This condition is applied when there is sufficient background evidence to warrant the assertion that discrimination is not anomalous but widespread, and this condition may be applied for example even where if there is no legislative discrimination or where the non-religious may have legal recourse against such discrimination. However, societal discrimination (i.e. discrimination by peers, as opposed to state or legal discrimination) is not easily measured, and for this reason the Report does not currently have similar more severe boundary conditions to capture higher levels of social discrimination per se. In principle these may be introduced in future. However, we consider that countries with actual higher levels of social discrimination against the non-religious will generally already meet other higher level (more severe) boundary conditions under this thematic strand.

The dominant influence of religion in public life undermines the right to equality and/or non-discrimination

Applied when the influence of religion on public life undermines others’ rights, such as SRHR, women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights.

May be applied when the influence is overt (i.e. when religious laws are applied to undermine others’ rights) or covert (i.e. where religious pressure groups exert influence to affect policy)

The non-religious are persecuted socially or there are prohibitive social taboos against atheism, humanism or secularism
Complete tyranny precludes all freedoms of expression and thought, religion or belief

Applied when overriding acts of oppression by the State are extreme, to the extent that the question of freedom of thought and expression is almost redundant, because all human rights and freedoms are quashed by authorities.

Countries: North Korea

Expression of core Humanist principles on democracy, freedom and human rights is brutally repressed
Expression of non-religious views is severely persecuted, or is rendered almost impossible by severe social stigma, or is highly likely to be met with hatred or violence
There is significant social marginalisation of the non-religious or stigma associated with expressing atheism, humanism or secularism
Religious or ideological indoctrination is utterly pervasive in schools
There is a nominal state church with few privileges or progress is being made toward disestablishment

Countries: Bulgaria, Norway, Peru, Rwanda

The non-religious are barred from some government offices (including posts reserved for particular religions or sects)
‘Apostasy’ is outlawed and punishable with a prison sentence

Countries: Bahrain, Comoros, Jordan, Kuwait

‘Apostasy’ or conversion from a specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death
Some religious courts rule in civil or family matters on a coercive or discriminatory basis
Religious authorities have supreme authority over the state

Countries: Iran

State legislation is partly derived from religious law or by religious authorities
Preferential treatment is given to a religion or religion in general

This condition is applied where there are miscellaneous indicators that organs of the state offer various forms of support for a religion, or to religion in general over non-religious worldviews, suggesting a preference for those beliefs, or that the organs of that religion are privileged.

There is a pattern of impunity or collusion in violence by non-state actors against the nonreligious
State-funded schools provide religious education which may be nominally comprehensive but is substantively biased or borderline confessional
Religious or ideological instruction in a significant number of schools is of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety

This condition highlights countries where schools subject children to fundamentalist religious instruction with no real opportunity to question fundamentalist tenets, or where lessons routinely encourage hatred (for example religious or ethnic hatred). The wording “significant number of schools” is not given a rigid quantification (sometimes the worst-offending schools are unregistered, illegal, or otherwise uncounted); however the condition is not applied in cases where only a small number of schools meet the description and may be anomalous, as opposed to being indicative of a widespread problem.

State legislation is largely or entirely derived from religious law or by religious authorities
Anomalous discrimination by local or provincial authorities, or overseas territories
Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in at least some public schools (without secular or humanist alternatives)
‘Blasphemy’ or criticism of religion is outlawed and punishable by death
Government figures or state agencies openly marginalize, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious
Government authorities push a socially conservative, religiously or ideologically inspired agenda, without regard to the rights of those with progressive views
It is illegal to advocate secularism or church-state separation, or such advocacy is suppressed
Prohibitive interreligious social control (including interreligious marriage bans)
Quasi-divine veneration of a ruling elite is enforced, or a single-party regime holds uncontested power, subject to severe punishment
Legal or constitutional provisions exclude non-religious views from freedom of belief
It is illegal to register an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization, or such groups are persecuted by authorities
There is a religious tax or tithing which is compulsory, or which is state-administered and discriminates by precluding non-religious groups
The non-religious are barred from holding government office
Some concerns about children's right to specifically religious freedom

This condition may apply if specifically religious education, religious materials, or specific religious denominations are so tightly controlled that children are in fact over-protected from exposure to religion and are likely unable to explore or construct their own worldview in accordance with their evolving capacities. This condition helps us to classify states (perhaps with secular constitutions) which have criminalized specifically religious beliefs or practices. This condition is not applied if the restricted beliefs or practices are found to be outlawed due to their being of an extremist variety. While this condition does not directly reflect discrimination against non-religious persons or non-religious ideas, it does represent an overall threat to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; such restrictions could spill over to affect non-religious beliefs later; and they pose a risk of backlash against over-zealous secular authorities or even against non-religious individuals by association.

It is illegal or unrecognised to identify as an atheist or as non-religious
It is made difficult to register or operate an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization
 
Severe Discrimination
Mostly Satisfactory

Constitution and government

The Constitution[ref]https://gov.gd/constitution-grenada[/ref] and other laws and policies protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as freedom of expression, assembly and association. These rights are generally respected in practice.

The Constitution begins with an acknowledgement of the “supremacy of God” as one of the nation’s founding principles, where the equal and inalienable rights of its citizens are endowed by God.[ref]https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Grenada_1992.pdf?lang=en[/ref]

Article 1 outlines the rights and freedoms conferred on Grenadian citizens, whose exercise is limited only by respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest. Subsection b, grants citizens the right to freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association. The clause also prevents discrimination on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex.

Article 9 further outlines the right to freedom of conscience, stating:

“Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience, including freedom of thought and of religion, freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and both in public and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

Christian worship services form part of official festivities on national holidays.

Education and children’s rights

Grenada’s education model is based on the British schooling model, and is compulsory and free between the ages of six and fourteen. Despite this, poverty and harvest demands prevent many from attending full time and absenteeism is high.[ref]https://www.scholaro.com/pro/Countries/Grenada/Education-System[/ref]

Under Article 9 of the Constitution,

“2. Except with his own consent (or, if he is a person under the age of eighteen years, the consent of his guardian) no person attending any place of education shall be required to received religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if that instruction, ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his own.

“3. Every religious community shall be entitled, at its own expense, to establish and maintain places of education and to manage any place of education which it wholly maintains; and no such community shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for persons of that community in the course of any education provided at any places of education which it wholly maintains or in the course of any education which it otherwise provides.”

The government funds all secular schools and public schools administered by religious groups. Denominational schools are managed by a board of directors and staffed by the associated faith-based organization. There are no non-Christian denominational schools currently in operation.[ref]https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GRENADA-2019-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf[/ref]

The government funds secular schools and public schools administered by “traditional” Christian denominations. Students at government-funded schools are not obliged to attend religion classes.

Family, community and society

LGBTI+ rights

Male homosexuality is effectively illegal in Grenada, punishable by up to ten years in prison. Under the Grenada Criminal Code, Section 431, the offence of ‘unnatural crime’ is permitted by way of anal penetration. The offence is committable if it involves two males or a male and a female, however it cannot be committed by two females.[ref]https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/ngos/LGBTShadow_Grenada_annex.pdf[/ref]

Grenada’s LGBTI+ population face significant societal discrimination. In 2016, the constitutional referendum sought to protect the equal treatment of all people in Grenada, but this amendment was overwhelmingly rejected over fears that this could lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage.[ref]https://freedomhouse.org/country/grenada/freedom-world/2020[/ref]

There are no laws that prevent discrimination in housing, education, employment, health care etc. against a person based on their sexuality or gender identity.[ref]https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/GRENADA-2020-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf[/ref]

Women’s rights

Women generally have the same legal status and rights as men,[ref]https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/GRENADA-2020-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf[/ref] however, violence against women and children is a widespread issue. Despite domestic violence laws coming into effect in 2011, enforcement has been limited, and a significant proportion of violence against women remains unreported.[ref]https://www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20caribbean/attachments/publications/2020/grenada%20whles%20qualitative%20reportf%20digital.pdf?la=en&vs=4332[/ref]

A recent UN Women report found that ‘there remains significant social adherence to gendered systems, assumptions and arrangements that support and rationalize intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence.’ Through interviews with female survivors and men, explanations of violence against women in heterosexual unions were fostered by gendered expectations of care, work, family and women’s fidelity.[ref]https://www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20caribbean/attachments/publications/2020/grenada%20whles%20qualitative%20reportf%20digital.pdf?la=en&vs=4332[/ref]

Over the next three years, the government of Grenada will join the Spotlight Initiative to respond to family violence through legislative measures. According to the UN, ‘The Spotlight Initiative in Grenada will contribute to the achievement of gender equality, peace, social inclusion and protection of human rights…’[ref]https://caribbean.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2020/3/spotlight-initiative-to-end-violence-against-women-and-girls-launched-in-grenada[/ref]

The law prohibits abortions unless the mother’s life is in danger. As a result of this legal restriction, illegal and unsafe abortions take place throughout the country. Those procuring or assisting in the commission of an abortion can face a 10-year prison sentence.[ref]https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijwhw/international-journal-of-womens-health-and-wellness-ijwhw-3-049.php; https://www.genderindex.org/wp-content/uploads/files/datasheets/2019/GD.pdf [/ref]

Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values

In July 2012, Grenada became the first Caribbean country to decriminalize defamation, however, seditious libel remains a criminal offence. Due to politicians initiating defamation lawsuits against the media, many journalists who cannot afford legal costs self-censor.[ref]https://freedomhouse.org/country/grenada/freedom-world/2020[/ref]

A 2020 human rights report found that there were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events.[ref]https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/GRENADA-2020-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf[/ref]

Blasphemous language

According to Section 429 of the Criminal Code 2012,[ref]https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/text/253233[/ref] which addresses the publication or sale of blasphemous or obscene matter:

“Whoever publishes, sells, or offers for sale any blasphemous or obscene book, writing, or representation, shall be liable to imprisonment for 2 years.”

The law is not thought to be enforced.[ref]https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2020%20Blasphemy%20Enforcement%20Report%20_final_0.pdf[/ref]