Very limited information on the treatment of homosexuals, including the availability of state protection and the attitude of the general public toward members of the homosexual community in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Sexual relations in private between consenting adults of the same sex are prohibited in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ottosson 2006; see also World Policy Institute Dec. 2003, 1). According to a report published on the World Policy Institute's Web site, Article 146 of the 1990 Criminal Code of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines states that "any person who 'commits buggery [anal intercourse] with any other person,' and any person who 'permits any person to commit buggery with him or her,' is 'liable to imprisonment for ten years'" (Dec. 2003, 83; Ottosson 2006). Article 148 of the 1990 Criminal Code stipulates that "any person who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with another person of the same sex, or procures or attempts to procure another person of the same sex to commit an act of gross indecency with him or her, is guilty of an offense and liable to imprisonment for five years" (World Policy Institute Dec. 2003, 83; Ottosson 2006).

A joint report published by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that, in general, homophobia is common in almost all Caribbean countries and that homosexuals in those countries are socially stigmatized (UN Dec. 2005; see also ibid. Apr. 2004). An immigration officer at the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago provided the following information on the treatment of homosexuals in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in correspondence dated 9 July 2006. He noted that public statements have been made that promote discrimination against gays and lesbians for religious reasons. However, he explained that although homophobia is still widespread in the country, the general public does not appear to be aggressive toward homosexuals. The Canadian Immigration Officer also indicated that there are no government programs or non-governmental organizations in place that offer services to the homosexual community of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Canada. 9 July 2006. Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago. Correspondence from a Canadian immigration officer.

Ottosson, Daniel. 2006. "Legal Survey on the Countries in the World Having Legal Prohibitions on Sexual Activities between Consenting Adults in Private." (International Gay and Lesbian Association Web site). http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/LGBcriminallaws-Daniel_Ottoson.pdf [Accessed 18 Oct. 2006]

United Nations (UN). December 2005. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). "Caribbean." AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2005. http://www.unaids.org/epi/2005/doc/EPIupdate2005_pdf_en/Epi05_08_en.pdf [Accessed 18 Oct. 2006]

_____. April 2004. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Le nouveau Courrier. "Santé/Culture. Problèmes au paradis : le sida dans les Caraïbes." http://portal.unesco.org/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=21211&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html [Accessed 19 Oct. 2006]

World Policy Institute. December 2003. Andrew Reding. "Sexual Orientation and Human Rights in the Americas." World Policy Reports. http://www.worldpolicy.org/globalrights/sexorient/2003-LGBT-Americas.pdf [Accessed 18 Oct. 2006]

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), Barbados Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination (BGLAD), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), United States Department of State.