Monthly Updates
December 2022
The Barbados High Court issued a ruling on 12 December eradicating legislative prohibitions of consensual same-sex relations. Barbados is the third Caribbean nation to overthrow such colonial-era conservative laws and legalize homosexuality in 2022. The abolished Sexual Offences Act of 1992 penalized with a life sentence those found guilty of engaging in same sex behaviour. While seldom invoked, the law’s wide definitions and ambiguous language gave place for prejudice and hate towards LGBTQIA+ people. It has been hailed as a landmark decision and significant step towards protecting the human rights of LGBTQIA+ people in Barbados and ensuring stigma-free access to services and positive inclusion in society.
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GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021
Representative
Government
Government
Fundamental
Rights
Rights
Checks on
Government
Government
Impartial
Administration
Administration
Participatory
Engagement
Engagement
Basic Information
Population
287 708
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Mia Mottley (since 2018)
Head of government party
Barbados Labour Party (BLP)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
First Past the Post
Women in lower or single chamber
26.7%
Women in upper chamber
42.1%
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties
1.72
Head of state
President Dame Sandra Mason
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
19/01/2018
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
46.72%
Human Rights Treaties
State party
Signatory
No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Convention on the Rights of the Child
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
Equal Remuneration Convention
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Early Warning System BETA
Low risk of democratic breakdown (BETA)
Low risk of democratic backsliding (BETA)
Attributes Over Time
GSoD Indices
Regime type
0
10