Overview of Human Rights in Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a parliamentary democracy. The government works to respect the human rights of its citizens; however, problems persist. Police forces in Saint Lucia both physically and mentally abuse suspects and prisoners. Violators are often not punished. The judiciary is slow and long delays in trial and sentencing are the result.  Rising rates of child abuse are also a concern.  That said, Saint Lucia has a stronger human rights record than many other countries in the world.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

71st out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.