1. Enabling policy environments
For More Effective HIV Responses Among Gay And Bisexual Men And Other Men Who Have Sex With Men

2. SITUATION OF MSM - CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean is one of the regions with the worst laws, policies and regulations for effective HIV prevention in key populations.
Eleven countries criminalize consensual sex between adults of the same sex.
The Caribbean report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law found human rights abuses and laws that criminalize key populations impede access to sexual and reproductive health and justice services across the Caribbean
Even where same sex relations NOT illegal - discrimination is widespread and only Cuba has anti-discrimination legislation for LGBT

3. LAWS MATTER
MSM HIV PREVALENCE– COUNTRIES CRIMINALIZING MSM

4. LAWS MATTER
MSM HIV PREVALENCE– COUNTRIES NOT CRIMINALIZING MSM

5. HIV-LAW HOPEFUL
They saw signs of progress in the Caribbean region including:
2010, PANCAP’S -CARICOM Model Anti-Discrimination Law
2010, the Organization of American States passed Resolution 2600, declared support for sexual orientation and gender identity as RIGHTS.
2010, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis urged fellow leaders to reconsider their stances on homophobic laws.
constitutional challenge in Belize to decriminalize consensual sexual relationships between MSM
2011, Guyana’s parliament decided not to move forward with a bill that would inappropriately criminalize the transmission of HIV.

6. NOT SO HOPEFUL
Stigma against MSM very strong & discrimination common.
S&D by health care workers & breaches of confidentiality common.
Suriname - almost half of MSM experienced S&D based on sexual orientation;
Caribbean Men’s Internet Survey – 2015
38% experienced verbal insults or name-calling in past year
48% stared at or intimidated because people knew or presumed they were attracted to men.
11% rphysically assaulted in the last five years;
14% HIV+ reported denial of medical help.

7. 2016 - ADVOCACY ALONE NOT ENOUGH
NOT ONE CARICOM MEMBER HAS PASSED ANTI- DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION
NOT ONE CASE CHALLENGING THE ‘BUGGERY’ LAW OR DISCRIMINATION HAS HAD A FAVOURABLE RULING EVEN AT FIRST INSTANCE
NOT ONE COUNTRY HAS REMOVED THE LAWS CRIMINALIZING SAME SEX RELATIONS
ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY MORE HOSTILE TO MSM BECAUSE OF DISCRIMINATORY EXPORT OF HATE FROM RIGHT WING RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN AMERICA

8. POLITICIANS UNWILLING TO CHALLENGE (ARE PART OF) GROWING RELIGIOSITY
NEW APPROACHES NEEDED
POLITICIANS UNWILLING TO CHALLENGE (ARE PART OF) GROWING RELIGIOSITY
NEED TARGETED LEGAL STRATEGY
LOCAL CHALLENGES – COORDINATED & STRATEGIC
REGIONAL CHALLENGES – CCJ -SUPPORTED BY DATA & SENSITISATION OF JUDGES
INTERNATIONAL REPORTING & CHALLENGES – UPR, ICCPR, ICSCR, OAS - IACHR

9. NEW APPROACHES NEEDED TARGETED LEGAL STRATEGY – DATA SUPPORTED
CSOs TRAINED IN REPORTING AND LEGAL LITERACY
LAWYERS TRAINED TO SUPPORT CSOs & their LEGAL CHALLENGES
CARIBBEAN WIDE DATA COLLECTION & SHARING
CASE AFTER CASE AFTER CASE
COMBINED WITH & SUPPORTING ADVOCACY