Barbados

The Employment of Women (Maternity Leave) Act of Barbados provides all employees who can become pregnant the right to maternity leave and the protection of their employment during such leave. 

The Family Law Act provides that children of a marriage have the same legal status as children born of a “union other than marriage” which is defined as a relationship that is established when a man and woman who have cohabited continuously for 5 years or more and are not married. This excludes children of single parents, parents who did not live together for 5 years or more, same-sex couples, or persons caring for children via informal childcare arrangements. 

The Marriage Act 1978-40, as amended by 1979-13, 1979-32, 1980-55, 1982-27, 1983-2, 1994-11 and 1994-22, prohibits marriages between family members, according to Schedule 1. The Act does not expressly include or prohibit marriage between same-sex couples; however, same sex marriage is not recognized. Although the concept of “marriage” is not defined, the Act prohibits marriage between persons under 16 in section 4 (Marriage between persons under 16 years void).

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act establishes the legal framework for abortion procedures in Barbados.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act establishes the legal framework for abortion procedures in Barbados.

The Sexual Offences Act (Cap. 154) criminalizes various sexual offences in Barbados, emphasizing consent, age, and coercion. 

The Status of Children Reform Act was enacted to eliminate the common law discrimination of “illegitimate” children from January 1st, 1980, and serves to equate the rights of children born out of wedlock with the rights of children who are born in wedlock.