by Curlan Campbell
- Criminal Justice Reform Committee community outreach efforts will begin in St David
- Campaign aligns with broader regional effort led by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
- Brochures outlining common sexual offences, legal penalties, issues related to social media, consent, and available support services for victims will be distributed
Several schools in the parish of St David are set to benefit from a comprehensive public education and awareness campaign spearheaded by the Criminal Justice Reform Committee. This initiative represents a bold and necessary step in combating sexual offences. The aim is to address the alarming prevalence of sex-related crimes, particularly those involving child victims, and the increasing number of young men facing incarceration for such offences.
During the recent launch of an awareness brochure which focuses on sex-related crimes, the head of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee High Court Judge Justice Paula Gilford emphasised the importance of raising awareness as a key preventative measure. “We have found it critical to inform individuals about the consequences of committing these crimes and to educate them on how to avoid becoming either victims or perpetrators,” Justice Gilford stated. “This campaign is part of a broader effort to create a safer society grounded in respect, accountability, and legal awareness.”
The initiative includes the distribution of an informative brochure that outlines common sexual offences, their legal penalties, issues related to social media, consent, and available support services for victims. The brochure also targets potential offenders by explaining how to avoid crossing legal and ethical boundaries. 800 brochures were printed with the support of St George’s University (SGU).
Key community outreach efforts will feature school visits, educational programmes, and art competitions across various parishes, beginning in St David. Participating schools include Westerhall Secondary School, St David Catholic Secondary School (Forms 1 and 2), St David Roman Catholic School (Grade 6), St Joseph’s Roman Catholic School, Vincent’s Roman Catholic School, St Dominic Roman Catholic School, and Crochu Roman Catholic School.
This campaign aligns with a broader regional effort led by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), which recently launched its own public awareness campaign to demystify the court system. Under the theme “Accessibility and Awareness: The ECSC Bridging the Gap Through Community Engagement,” the ECSC initiative involves visits to community colleges and schools, public lectures, and other outreach activities aimed at building trust in the justice system. “The court’s campaign complements our efforts by helping the public understand how the justice system works and what rights individuals have within it,” Justice Gilford added.
The campaign has received high-level endorsement and support from both the former Acting Chief Justice His Lordship Mario Michel and the current Acting Chief Justice Her Ladyship Margaret Price-Findlay.
The Criminal Justice Reform Committee also expressed deep appreciation to key partners who made the initiative possible, including Dr Marios Lucas, Dean of the School of Medicine at SGU, and illustrators David Nahabedian and Sarah Gluschitz from the university’s Center for Biomedical Visualisation, who played an essential role in the design and compilation of the brochure.
The committee acknowledged the support of local media houses and expressed hope that the message will continue to spread through digital platforms, allowing for wider community access to this vital information.
“While this campaign marks an important step, it is only the beginning,” Justice Paula Gilford emphasised in closing. “By educating our youth and the broader community about the realities and consequences of sexual offences, we aim to significantly reduce their occurrence and eventually eliminate them from our society.”
As Grenada moves forward with this proactive, community-centred approach, the message is clear: prevention through education and empowerment is key to building a safer future for all.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Legal Affairs has reaffirmed its strong commitment to advancing justice reform in Grenada, with a specific focus on addressing sexual offences and modernising the criminal justice system. During the launch of the Public Awareness Campaign, Minister for Legal Affairs Claudette Joseph outlined plans to collaborate with key stakeholders to enhance public access to justice and support the establishment of a dedicated court for sexual offences.
Despite previous progress, the minister acknowledged that there are areas of stagnation, particularly in the criminal jurisdiction of the courts and in addressing sexual crimes. To tackle this issue, Minister Joseph is advocating for the resumption of work initiated in 2023 to establish a specialised court that handles sexual offences exclusively, recognising the sensitive and complex nature of such cases.
“Our ultimate vision is a legal system that upholds the Constitution, promotes good governance, and delivers justice efficiently and fairly to all citizens,” Minister Joseph stated. “While we have seen progress, the criminal courts have not benefited from sufficient reforms in recent years, particularly in addressing sexual offences. That must change.”
One of the ministry’s top priorities is the creation of a dedicated court for sexual offences. The minister noted that previous efforts were hindered by administrative setbacks but expressed a strong desire to resume and complete the project, emphasising the urgency of protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring specialised handling of such cases. “Victims of sexual offences deserve a justice system that is responsive, respectful, and equipped to address their specific needs. A specialised court is an essential part of that response,” the minister emphasised.
In support of legislative and judicial reform, the ministry pledged full support to the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, outlining concrete actions such as:
- Drafting and advancing legislative reforms in collaboration with the committee
- Assisting with administrative upgrades and the modernisation of court systems
- Supporting courtroom improvements to better accommodate sensitive cases
- Ensuring judicial independence while fulfilling the judiciary’s constitutional mandate
