Privy Council Rules Against Criminalisation Of Consensual Same-Sex Relations

The Privy Council has ruled that Trinidad and Tobago’s Sexual Offences Act cannot be used to criminalise private, consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex.

In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, the Privy Council allowed an appeal by Jason Jones, finding that sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act infringe his constitutional rights, particularly the right to respect for private and family life.

“Sections 13 and 16 of the SOA 1986 infringe Mr Jones’ fundamental rights and must be interpreted subject to the Constitution so as to make it clear that they do not apply to criminalise private, consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex.”