Mathilde Doucet (ASF Canada) et Charrice Talbert de l'organisation PETAL (Promotiong Empowerment through Awareness for Lesbian and Bisexual Women) à Belize City,
Last December, we laid the foundations for an ambitious and much-needed project in the Caribbean: Access to Rights in the Caribbean: Equality, Non-Discrimination, Citizenship and Empowerment through Law, or ARCENCiEL. This 3-year project (2025-2028), funded by Global Affairs Canada, aims to build the capacity of local and regional civil society actors, including legal sector personnel, to fight injustices based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Our main objective is to use the law as a lever for change to enable individuals to assert their rights and regain power over their lives.
Empowerment through Law: Changing Mindsets and Combating Discrimination
One of the main challenges for people of sexual and gender diversity in the countries targeted by the project (Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) is the extent of discrimination and stereotypes that are deeply rooted in society. These barriers make access to fundamental rights, such as the right to health, employment or decent housing, extremely difficult. In many cases, these individuals are victims of violence, whether physical, sexual or psychological, and suffer discrimination linked to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The ARCENCiEL project seeks to transform this reality by offering empowerment through the law. Using the legal tools at their disposal, we aim to help people of sexual and gender diversity change their situation and claim their right to a life of dignity, equality and respect for their human rights. This process also aims to change social stereotypes, by eliminating discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation, and to promote a more inclusive and equitable society.
The obstacles: Alarming economic and social insecurity
Through in-depth consultation with stakeholders, we found that people of sexual and gender diversity in the countries covered by the project are often deprived of their most fundamental rights. Access to sexual and reproductive health services is limited, and individuals face major difficulties in accessing employment, social services, protection against sexual and gender-based violence, and housing. These living conditions keep many people in a precarious economic and social situation that is incompatible with the right to an adequate and decent standard of living. The ARCENCiEL project aims to remedy this situation by providing legal and practical solutions to the systemic problems encountered.
The Four Axes of the ARCENCiEL Project
The ARCENCiEL project relies on four main axes to achieve its objectives:
Strengthening the knowledge of individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities: We are committed to improving understanding of rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, through awareness-raising, outreach and training. This will enable individuals to take ownership of their rights and defend them more effectively.
Providing technical support for legal aid services: The project will provide support for legal aid and court services to facilitate access to the courts for victims of fundamental rights violations, including women in all their diversity.
Supporting strategic litigation: Using emblematic human rights cases, we aim to contribute to changing the legal framework and setting important precedents for the protection of the rights of individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Supporting advocacy for societal change: Finally, we will support advocacy for structural and societal change to encourage the adoption of more inclusive public policies that respect the rights of all people, particularly individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
A Visionary Project for a More Inclusive Future
The ARCENCiEL project represents a significant step forward for equal rights in the Caribbean. By focusing on legal empowerment, victim support and changing mindsets, we are working towards a more inclusive, equitable society that respects human rights. This project not only defends the rights of individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities but also seeks to transform the social structures and norms that perpetuate inequality.
We firmly believe that access to rights is essential if everyone is to live with dignity and freedom. ARCENCiEL project represents a decisive step in this direction, and Lawyers Without Borders Canada is determined to accompany individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in their fight for equality and justice.