cora Williams, Manager of the National AIDS Program, is warning that a significant legal contradiction in Antigua and Barbuda’s sexual health framework is putting teenagers at serious risk.
In a recent interview with Antigua.news, Williams said the law allows teens to consent to sex at 16, yet blocks them from accessing HIV testing, STI treatment, contraception, and other sexual health services without parental permission until age 18 — a gap he describes as harmful and illogical.
“It is almost like we are setting them up to lose because if you are telling me that I can have sex at 16, then I should be able to access sexual and reproductive health, but the law is telling me I have to walk with my parents. These are some of the inconsistencies we have to look at”, she said.
Williams says this mismatch is driving secrecy among sexually active teens, delaying treatment, and contributing to rising HIV infections.
She also confirmed that several teenagers in Antigua and Barbuda are already living with HIV, while others may be infected but are avoiding testing because they cannot access care privately.
Regional NAP Managers are expected to discuss the issue, and Williams hopes it will spark a national conversation on updating the law to protect young people.
“We as NAP Managers, all 18 of us, this is what will take front stage in April of 2026…two countries that have already changed their laws will share their policy with us, and the hope is to return to our respective countries to discuss the matter”, she said.
For Williams, the end solution is to either move the age of consent to 18 or move the age of access to care to 16.
An estimated 1,040 people are currently living with HIV in Antigua and Barbuda, including affected teens.
Williams says the growing number of adolescent infections underscores the urgent need to align the law with reality and ensure young people can access the care they need.
