IACHR renews call for Barbados to abolish death penalty

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has renewed its call for Barbados to abolish the death penalty, noting that no executions have taken place since 1984 but that the punishment remains on the statute books.

In its 2025 annual report, the Commission—an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS)—said there has been “no progress” toward removing capital punishment from domestic law and again urged the state to eliminate it entirely.

According to the report, six individuals were on death row as of May 2023.

Mixed human rights picture

While pressing for abolition of the death penalty, the IACHR also highlighted several areas of progress in Barbados, including parliamentary reform efforts, steps to address court case backlogs, and the passage of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.

The report also noted a decline in homicides and the introduction of statutory paternity leave for the first time.

However, the Commission raised concerns about ongoing reports of child abuse and neglect, as well as discriminatory laws affecting women’s ability to pass nationality to their children.

The IACHR pointed to continued institutional strengthening, including the work of the Parliamentary Reform Commission, which submitted its final report in 2024 and was formally noted by Parliament in June 2025.

The report also highlighted the role of Office of the Ombudsman Barbados, which has handled complaints involving government agencies such as the police service, health ministry, and education ministry.

It further noted the appointment of Barbados’ first Human Rights Commissioner, tasked with promoting and monitoring compliance with international human rights obligations.

On public safety, the Commission acknowledged new legislation aimed at strengthening law enforcement tools, including the Interception of Communications Act and the Criminal Proceedings (Witness Anonymity) Act.

These laws allow courts to authorize monitored interception of communications in criminal investigations and provide mechanisms to protect witness identities during trials.

The report also recorded a modest decline in homicides, with 38 cases reported between January and October 2025 compared to 41 in the same period the previous year.

Despite legislative progress, the IACHR expressed concern about rising reports of child abuse and neglect.

Data cited from Barbados’ Child Care Board indicated more than 400 reported cases annually over the past four years, including 677 cases between 2023 and 2024. Officials also reported increasing incidents involving injuries linked to hazardous substance ingestion and physical harm.

The report also addressed gender inequality, noting that women in Barbados continue to perform significantly more unpaid care work than men and earn lower average wages.

It further highlighted concerns about intimate partner violence, affecting up to half of women with partners, according to available data.

At the same time, the Commission welcomed the passage of the Family Leave Bill, which introduced three weeks of paid paternity leave, extended maternity leave to 14 weeks, and replaced the maternity grant with a gender-neutral child grant.

The IACHR also acknowledged reforms within the prison system, including a programme launched at Dodds Prison to provide higher education opportunities for inmates, including university and master’s level courses aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration.

The Commission said that while Barbados has made notable progress in several areas, sustained reforms are still needed to strengthen human rights protections and bring the country’s legal framework fully in line with international standards.