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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Treatment of homosexuals and protection from mistreatment available to them

Further to VCT41751.E of 11 July 2003 and Section 5 of Country Reports 2002, both available at Regional Documentation Centres, the only recent reference found on the situation of homosexuals in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is contained in a July 2003 article that, referring to the situation of homosexuals in various English-speaking Caribbean countries, puts particular emphasis on societal attitudes and the invisibility of homosexual communities in Caribbean countries (Agua Buena 25 July 2003). The article also discusses Caribbean legislation that affects homosexual relations, although no specific example is given for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (ibid.).

In addition to the above, the following information was provided by the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation, a non-profit organization located in Bermuda and formed to educate the people of Bermuda on HIV/AIDS:

... the general situation regarding the discrimination of gays and lesbians in the Caribbean region has always been one of intolerance and ignorance which has led to numerous occurrences of violence against persons who pursue same-sex relationships. In many of the Caribbean islands the situation towards gays and lesbians has not been addressed by the governments nor any human rights organizations in the region.

We further understand that it is this failure of Caribbean governments in addressing the basic rights of gays and lesbians that has contributed to the emigration of many Caribbean gays and lesbians in seeking residential status outside of the region, where generally they are far better accepted and treated with some degree of respect in regards to their lifestyle.

As the gay/lesbian lifestyle is considered to be a taboo and 'derogatory' lifestyle, it is often difficult for such support groups to exist in small countries such as [those] within the Caribbean region. However,... in some countries ... very private and confidential groups do exist (1 Oct. 2003).

Homosexual organizations or support groups in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines could not be located by the Research Directorate through the sources consulted.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agua Buena Human Rights Association, San Jose, Costa Rica. 25 July 2003. Richard Stern. "Caribbean AIDS Outreach Efrforts Hampered by Homophobia, Violence." <http://www. aguabuena.org/ingles/articules/caribbeanoutbreak.html> [Accessed 30 Sept. 2003]

Allan Vincent Smith Foundation, Hamilton, Bermuda. 1 October 2003. Correspondence received from a representative.

Additional Sources Consulted

Barbados Gays & Lesbians Against Discrimination (BGLAD), Bridgetown

Country Reports 2001-2003

IRB Databases

Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), Kingston

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 2002-2003

National AIDS Committee (NAC) of Jamaica, Kingston

Internet sites and search engines, including:

Acción Ciudadana Contra el SIDA (ACCSI), Caracas

Barbados National HIV/AIDS Commission

CARE International

CARE USA

Caribbean AIDS Telecommunications and Information Network (CATIN)

Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CERAC), Trinidad and Tobago

Gayscape

The Human Rights Campaign, Washington

International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Coordinators (Interpride)

International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), Brussels

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), San Francisco

International Gay & Lesbian Outdoors Organization

International Lesbian and Gay Youth Organization, Amsterdam

Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)

Project Inform, San Francisco