Written question asked by Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 September 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 28 September 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 September 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Belize: Homosexuality

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean of the recent ruling from the Supreme Court in Belize that a law that criminalised homosexuality was unconstitutional.

Answer: Tolerance, respect, equality and non-discrimination are all important UK values. I therefore welcome the recent ruling from the Supreme Court in Belize and hope that, following the appeal made by the Belize Catholic Church, the decision will stand. I also hope countries across the Caribbean and the wider Commonwealth which continue to criminalise private consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex will consider this judgment carefully and be encouraged to make similar updates to their own legislation.

Secondary information