Colours Cayman has petitioned to the EU parliament to require the UK government, as a prerequisite for trade negotiations upon the country leaving the EU (1) to rectify non-compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), in particular LGBT rights in the British oversea territories, and (2) to remain party of the ECHR and its court’s jurisdiction.

For further information, please see note below:

In summary, the petition requests that the European Parliament impose the following pre-conditions on the United Kingdom for the entry into negotiations over any trade agreements upon its exit from the European Union:
(1) the Government of the United Kingdom be required to rectify non-compliance with the ECHR, either by it or any of its territories to which the ECHR has been extended: and

(2) the Government of the United Kingdom be required to remain party to the ECHR, including a covenant securing on-going compliance with the ECHR and acceptance of the jurisdiction of its court.

The failure by the Overseas Territories in the Caribbean to uphold the rights of LGBT people are well documented. Indeed, Colours Cayman has petitioned the UK government, via the Governor of the Cayman Islands, for an Order in Council so that local legislation can be corrected and made to comply with the ECHR and its court’s judgments. However, the UK government has refused to act regardless of its constitutional powers and its international legal obligations to do so.

In these circumstances, the only hope that British citizens in the Overseas Territories in the Caribbean have is the ECHR. If the UK leaves the ECHR and its court’s jurisdiction, the prospects for the recognition and maintenance of the rights of LGBT people in the British Overseas Territories located in the Caribbean region are bleak. Theresa May’s dislike for the ECHR and its court is on the public record. Mrs May advocated, just before she became PM of the UK, that the UK should leave the ECHR. The Prime Minister subsequently seems to have changed her mind, but she admitted that she did so because of the lack of sufficient parliamentary support. As such, it is not unreasonable to conclude that it is only a matter of time (ie, when, not if) before the UK leaves the ECHR.

About Colours Cayman

Colours Cayman is a grassroots organisation, founded by Billie Bryan, that aims to foster a safe and comfortable social environment for the LGBTQ+ community of the Cayman Islands by building a network of local businesses and public venues free of discrimination and harassment.

Billie “Bee” Bryan
Colours Coordinator
Colours Cayman
http://colours.ky
+1 (345) 324-3779 Cayman Islands
+1 (717) 363-8500 USA
Skype: billie-bryan

Petition