The Global Initiative has confirmed that Grenada has prohibited corporal punishment in child care services and as a sentence for a crime.

The Juvenile Justice Act 2012, which came into force in 2016, explicitly prohibits corporal punishment as a sentence for a crime committed by a child. Article 64(2) states:

A sentence of flogging or whipping shall not be imposed on a child.”

Prior to the change, corporal punishment was lawful as a sentence for crime for males under articles 70, 75 and 78 of the Criminal Code 1958. These provisions are yet to be formally repealed.

In addition, amendments to the Child (Protection and Adoption) Act 2010 adopted in 2011 have also prohibited corporal punishment in child care services (art. 97J), defined as “(a) a boarding home; (b) a group home; (c) a foster home; (d) a residential home; (e) a training centre; (f) an assessment centre; (g) a children home; or (h) such other service; approved by the Minister pursuant to this Act to provide for the care of children”.

There is no prohibition of corporal punishment in other forms of alternative care, where it is lawful under articles 54, 55 and 65 of the Criminal Code 1958 providing for “justifiable force” by way of “correction”.

There are now 31 states where corporal punishment is still lawful as a sentence for crimes committed by children under state, traditional and/or religious law. Corporal punishment in Grenada is still lawful in the home, in informal alternative care settings, in day care, in schools and in penal institutions. The Global Initiative congratulates Grenada for this important progress and encourages the Government to enact legislation prohibiting all forms of corporal punishment in all settings.

Further information

• For more information on the legality of corporal punishment of children in Grenada, see our detailed report.
• See the latest facts and figures on global progress towards prohibition.
• Donate to help end corporal punishment of children or see more ways to get involved in the campaign.