A/HRC/15/12 Minister. The new Administration’s message was good governance, accountability and the rule of law. 7. A general overview of the Constitution and the legislation of Grenada was presented. The Grenada Constitution, which had entered into force in 1974, was the supreme law of Grenada and guaranteed fundamental rights and freedoms. The Constitution also provided that any person alleging that any of its provisions had been breached could apply to the High Court for the enforcement of his or her right. Some of the major laws enacted by Parliament that pertained to human rights were referred to, as was multilateral legislation, including treaties and conventions ratified by Grenada. Examples given included the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. 8. The structure and the functioning of the various branches of government, including the executive and the judiciary, were then explained. It was stated that overall, the general direction and control of the Government of Grenada were vested in the executive arm of the Government, which was collectively responsible to Parliament. The judiciary in Grenada was part of the Eastern Caribbean Legal System. The Grenadian Constitution and laws provided for an independent judiciary, and the Government respected judicial independence in practice. Final appeal from courts in Grenada lay with the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. 9. It was emphasized that on 5 September 2009, the Government had released the remaining 7 of the original “Grenada 17”, who had been imprisoned for the 1983 murders of then Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and 10 other citizens. Their release had carried out pursuant to a 2007 ruling in a re-sentencing hearing ordered by the Privy Council. 10. Regarding the legislation, it was observed that various laws had been enacted to regulate and address various aspects of citizens’ lives, thus enhancing and guaranteeing individual human rights. Where those laws were inadequate, amendments had also been made to correct those inadequacies and bring about change in society. 11. Some international treaties, conventions and instruments ratified by the Government of Grenada had also been given effect. It was noted, however, that international human rights instruments could not generally be invoked directly before local courts; rather, domestic legislation must first be enacted by the Parliament of Grenada in order to incorporate such instruments into the legal system. 12. Action taken regarding social and economic rights, such as the adoption of policies and programmes and the provision of services, was then described. Policies described were focused on families and children, persons with disabilities, women, education and labour rights. 13. Services mentioned included the Necessitous Fund, to assist children in school; burial of the poor, to assist the disadvantaged in the burial of their loved ones; the Water Support Programme, to ensure that each household had access to clean potable water, and day-care services, to ensure that children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years were cared for while their parents were at work. 14. Regarding families and children, it was highlighted that in 1998, the Child Protection Act had been enacted. The Act was aimed at protecting children from all forms of abuse. A recent review of the Act had revealed the need for provisions for the mandatory reporting of all forms of abuse and the removal of a statutory limitation for sexual offences. 15. Concerning persons with disabilities, it was explained that the Government provided support to the Grenada Council for the Disabled, the vanguard organization for persons living with disabilities. A monthly subvention was provided to assist in the operations of a secretariat. Additionally, financial support, free medical care and housing were provided. 4