ERAO SVG has received information of a video circulating on social media depicting two adult men engaging in same-sex conduct in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). At the time of the incident, one of the men in the video is alleged to be a police officer. ERAO SVG cannot confirm or deny whether the acts engaged in were consensual or not.
ERAO SVG has also received information about the men being assaulted in connection to their conduct in the video that was circulated on social media.
In light of the aforementioned, ERAO SVG urges law enforcement officials to fully investigate this matter, arrest and charge the perpetrator/s who illegally filmed the men engaging in same-sex conduct without their consent contrary to the Cybercrime Act, and arrest and charge all persons who subsequently assaulted any of the men in the video contrary to the Criminal Code.
ERAO SVG continues to call upon the State of SVG to repeal the “Buggery” and “Gross indecency” laws under the Criminal Code in SVG.
In SVG, same-sex conduct is a crime punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment. These laws, which are largely unenforced, perpetuate bias, stigma and stereotyping against LGBTQ+ persons in SVG. They also embolden others to harass, discriminate, and commit acts of violence against LGBTQ+ persons in SVG.
ERAO SVG condemns all forms of harassment, discrimination, and violence against persons in SVG based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sex characteristics.
