Why the Caribbean? And why LGBTI human rights?
As a region, the Caribbean has the second-highest HIV prevalence rate in the world, after sub-Saharan Africa. UNAIDS and regional and national agencies have identified homophobia as a factor contributing to this troubling statistic. In numerous countries, particularly the Commonwealth Caribbean, the criminalization of consensual same-sex relationships and gender non-conforming people — accompanied by wider societal stigma and discrimination, often intensified by fundamentalist religious groups — has had a damaging effect on health and human rights.
As a result, the Legal Network is pursuing various strategies to ensure that basic human rights are enjoyed by all.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2019