Raza e Igualdad hace un llamado a los Estados en Latinoamérica para que tomen medidas más inclusivas a favor de las personas trans

Raza e Igualdad hace un llamado a los Estados en Latinoamérica para que tomen medidas más inclusivas a favor de las personas trans

Washington D.C., March 31st 2020. Today we commemorate the International Transgender Visibility Day, a day to celebrate transgender lives and raise awareness about the discrimination this population faces. On this day, the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality), wants to give visibility to the issues transgender people face throughout Latin America.

All over the world, racism and other forms of discrimination marginalize and ostracize the trans population. This makes access to health services, education, work, and housing extremely difficult.  Unfortunately, States limited disaggregated data on the situation of trans people rendering them invisible from groups targeted for public policies designated to support vulnerable situations, especially in Latin America. Combined, these factors place them in vulnerable situations where they are more susceptible to different illnesses, addictions, and violence.

Violence against the trans community in Latin America

The trans community continues to face severe incidents of violence. For example, Brazil remains the leading country in trans homicides around the world with 127 registered cases[1], closely followed by Colombia who ranks third, with 21 recorded crimes against this population[2].  According to data collected by the National Association of Travestis and Transsexuals (ANTRA) in Brazil, there was a 90% increase in the first bimester of this year (38) compared to the same period last year (20).[3] According to these statistics, in some countries, to identify as trans is to sign a death sentence.

In Perú, the trans community continues to face large amounts of violence and discrimination. During the 2020 congressional elections, Gahela Cari, the first transgender candidate to run for Congress in Peru, tried to cast her vote when a member of the National Jury of Elections (JNE) refused to recognize her gender identity. Similarly, members of the polling station in Lambayeque harassed Fiorella Mimbela, an LGBTI+ activist, when her legal name and image were spread around social media networks.[4] These are not isolated acts but part of a wider pattern of rejection and violence the Peruvian trans community faces.

In the Dominican Republic, LGBTI organizations have recorded around 48 transgender homicides since 2006. Out of these 48 only 5 have verdicts, demonstrating the trans community not only faces high levels of violence but also faces barriers in access to justice. A more recent case shows that strangers are not always the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Willianny, a trans woman, had both her hair and breasts cut off by her own family members before her funeral, a repudiation of her identity. One LGBT activist, Yimbert Feliz Telemin, commented that «in the Dominican Republic being trans is worse than being a street dog.”[5]

Continual work must be done in order to combat the discrimination and violence against the trans population. Race and Equality calls on all Latin American and Caribbean States to sign and ratify the Inter-American Convention Against all Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance[6] and, for States that have not done so, legally recognize the gender identity of trans and non-binary people in accordance with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights Advisory Opinion 24-17[7]. Additionally, we remind States that many members of the trans community are sex workers and depend on their profession to survive. We call on States to safeguard their rights and guarantee they will not be the object of cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.

Gender Identity

Much of the discrimination against the trans population is also created from the lack of recognition of their identity.  As ANTRA describes it, it is not only the denial of their name, but their identity, “an appropriation by a society that frequently prefers to expose rather than welcome.”[8] Oftentimes, countries such as the Dominican Republic do not allow trans people to legally change their name while other countries place hurdles such as high costs, long bureaucratic processes, or as in Peru, require the process to be through the courts. Having the correct documentation is just the first step of many to demarginalize trans people from different public spaces. 

In countries where name recognition is legal, there continue to be issues with the lack of information regarding the process, both in relation to the necessary procedures and what to do in cases of discrimination. In rural areas all these issues are exacerbated. Bruna Benavides from ANTRA in Brazil notes that there is little investment in training or capacity building programs for trans leaders, so that they can provide the necessary assistance for people to complete the rectification of their documents.

Trans people during the pandemic

In collaboration with our partners we also ask for the inclusion of trans people in all public policies created due to COVID-19, not only at the local and state level, but also at a federal level, especially those developed to aid low-income, self-employed, and unemployed people. During this time, the stigma and discrimination against the trans population has become more visible. We call on States to guarantee their access to health and put in place protocols that will ensure they are treated humanely and not discriminated against because of their gender identity.

[1] Associação Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais do Brasil (ANTRA); Instituto Brasileiro Trans de educação (IBTE). “Dossiê Assassinatos e violência contra travestis e transexuais no Brasil em 2019”. 2020.

[2] https://www.rcnradio.com/colombia/colombia-tercer-pais-en-america-con-mayor-riesgo-para-personas-trans

[3]Associação Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais do Brasil (ANTRA); Instituto Brasileiro Trans de educação (IBTE). “Dossiê Assassinatos e violência contra travestis e transexuais no Brasil em 2019”. 2020.

[4] https://larepublica.pe/genero/2020/01/27/elecciones-2020-gahela-cari-y-fiorella-mimbela-denunciaron-discriminacion-y-transfobia-en-lima-y-lambayeque-transgenero-atmp/?fbclid=IwAR19ssnwXobbu2OkKcjMSZGvPqvRDKc2nkP0N93Hky31Wcz-Smb6nBYdB8s

[5] https://plumasatomicas.com/lgbt/familia-mutilo-senos-cabello-mujer-trans/

[6] To date only Uruguay and Mexico have signed and ratified this Convention. Avaiable at: http://www.oas.org/es/sla/ddi/tratados_multilaterales_interamericanos_A-69_discriminacion_intolerancia.asp

[7] https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/opiniones/seriea_24_esp.pdf

[8] Associação Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais do Brasil (ANTRA); Instituto Brasileiro Trans de educação (IBTE). “Dossiê Assassinatos e violência contra travestis e transexuais no Brasil em 2019” 2020.

Los Estados de América deben garantizar la salud y vida de personas migrantes y refugiadas frente a emergencia por el COVID-19

The Americas, March 30th, 2020.- Over the past few weeks, we have seen how the measures implemented by governments calling for quarantines, shut downs, deportations, border closures and militarization to address the emergency caused by the spread of COVID-19 are disproportionately affecting migrants and petitioners for international protections.

Multiple concerning situations as well as human rights violations of the migrant and refugee population have been denounced, among them, the situation of Venezuelan migrants stranded after both Colombia and Brazil closed their borders; the detention of at least 80Haitian nationals in Guatemala; the closing of the border between Mexico and the United States to asylum seekers, as well as the rise in deportations of Mexican and Central American people; the lack of sanitary and adequate conditions and the high risk of infection in migration stations, detention centers, and quarantine centers for people who were deported; and the violent repression on behalf of Mexico’s National Guard; the overflow of shelters, among others.

Given these facts, it is likely that migrants and refugees will continue to be affected in the following weeks and months. We, the undersigned organizations, urge the governments of our region to implement the necessary measures to guarantee the rights to life, health, physical, mental, and moral integrity of this population, in equal conditions and without any form of discrimination, including discrimination based on their migratory status or nationality.

As the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet has stated: “Under international human rights law, States have an obligation to take steps to prevent foreseeable threats to public health and have a duty to ensure that all who need vital medical care can receive it”. This includes access to prevention measures dictated by the World Health Organization, including access to COVID-19 testing, health services, and the necessary medical attention to treat the disease, to all people including migrants and refugees.

Additionally, States must halt deportations, and guarantee the access of all people to seek and be granted asylum. As the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has previously indicated, States have an obligation to guarantee that all people are able to seek and be granted asylum, as well as respecting the principle of non-refoulment. This means that States must abstain from returning individuals to territories where their lives or liberties are at risk, including through the use of rejection or non-admission at the border. The measures implemented in response to COVID-19 cannot prevent those seeking international protection from asking for it. Even in extenuating circumstances like the one we currently face, implementing measures that prevent the admission of refugees or asylum seekers, without protecting them against refoulment, is a violation of their human rights and against international obligations of States.

In that sense, the measures implemented as a response to this crisis cannot be discriminatory, or result in undesirable outcomes that would negatively impact the enjoyment of human rights. On the contrary, these measures must be proportional, strictly necessary, and developed and implemented with a human rights and gender perspective. They must also ensure the participation of civil society organizations. Moreover, these measures cannot justify the systematic detention of migrants, asylum-seekers or refugees.

On this front, we urge States to abstain from detaining migrants and refugees, free people currently in detention, and guarantee their access to housing, food, and medical services in public shelters, ensuring the necessary sanitary conditions and qualified medical staff to avoid contagion. Furthermore, group-specific attention must be provided to those who are most vulnerable to the virus, including the elderly, people with disabilities, women, LGBTIQ+ people and children. These same measures must be implemented in the country of origin of those who would have been deported, while the quarantine is in effect.

Additionally, the current restrictions to mobility and/or constitutional guarantees defined by multiple governments will impact in a particular manner the ability of migrants to access work. In this regard, States in the region must guarantee their access to livelihood, just like they would to the rest of the population.

On the militarization of borders and reports of repression, we remind governments that military forces must abstain from taking on duties related to ensuring civilian safety, health, or serving as migration officials. Using the military in such duties exposes the population to higher risks and to new human rights violations.

Similarly, States must guarantee the access to relevant, timely and clear information that is based off of scientific evidence regarding the pandemic. States must abstain from using discriminatory speeches or measures, which are stigmatizing or xenophobic, and from blocking or criminalizing the work of all who defend the rights of migrants and refugees. Likewise, governments must adopt positive measures to fight discriminatory discourse or actions of third parties regarding the crisis.

Finally, we, the undersigned organizations, emphasize that none of the measures implemented to respond to the COVID-19 emergency can justify human rights violations. We hope that States respond to the health emergency in accordance with their international obligations and we will remain vigilant in monitoring and denouncing the human rights situation of people in situations of human mobility and others in situations of risk.

In a region that has been vastly impacted by inequality, poverty, corruption, and extractivism, we hope that States take this opportunity to build up protection mechanisms, strengthen their social safety nets, and ensure the full access to water and health for every person, and the recognition and the guarantee to the human rights of the entire population without any form of discrimination.

Undersigned organizations:

International:

Coordinadora Regional de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (CRIES) Instituto Internacional sobre Raza, Igualdad y Derechos Humanos

Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) Refugees International

Women’s Link Worldwide

Regional:

Alianza Americas

Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)

Conferencia de Provinciales Jesuitas de América Latina y el Caribe Fundación para la Justicia y el Estado Democrático de Derecho (FJEDD) Misión Scalabriniana Ecuador

Organización Negra Centroamericana

Oficina en Washington para Asuntos Latinoamericanos (WOLA) Red Jesuita con Migrantes Latinoamérica y el Caribe (RJM-LAC) Red de Coaliciones Sur (RCS)

Synergia – Iniciativas por los Derechos Humanos

Argentina:

Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)

Comisión Argentina para Refugiados y Migrantes – CAREF

Brazil:

Conectas Direitos Humanos Missão Paz

Chile:

Clínica Jurídica de Migrantes y Refugiados de la Universidad Diego Portales Clinica Juridica Universidad Alberto Hurtado

Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes Chile

Colombia:

Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad (Dejusticia) Corporación Caribe Afirmativo

Programa de Asistencia Legal a Población con Necesidad de Protección Internacional y Víctimas del Conflicto Armado – Corporación Opción Legal – Colombia

Clínica Jurídica para Migrantes de la Universidad de los Andes Consultoría para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento (CODHES)

Costa Rica:

Servicio Jesuita para Migrantes Costa Rica (SJM-CR)

El Salvador:

Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA)

United States of America:

Comunidades Organizando El Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL) Cooperación Migrante

CRECEN

Houston’s America For All

Latin America Working Group (LAWG) Lila LGBTQ Iniciative Inc

Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) Women Working Together USA

Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) The Chelsea Collaborative

Guatemala:

Asociación Pop N’oj

Instituto de Relaciones Internacionales e Investigación para la Paz (IRIPAZ)

Instituto de investigación y proyección sobre Dinámicas Globales y Territoriales (IDGT)

Honduras:

Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación (ERIC)

Mexico:

Asylum Access México (AAMX) A.C. Colectivo de Mujeres Transnacionales Club Mujeres con Decisión

Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción, A.C. DHIA Sin Fronteras IAP

Nicaragua:

Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes Nicaragua (SJM-Nicaragua)

Panama:

Fe y Alegría

Paraguay:

Coordinadora por los Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia de Paraguay (CDIA)

Dominican Republic:

Centro para la Observación Migratoria y el Desarrollo Social en el Caribe (OBMICA)

Venezuela:

CIVILIS Derechos Humanos Prepara Familia

Programa Venezolano de Educación Acción en Derechos Humanos (Provea) Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados (JRS Venezuela)

Centros Comunitarios de Aprendizaje (CECODAP) Centro de Justicia y Paz (Cepaz)

Acción Solidaria

Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (CDH UCAB)

21 de marzo: Día Internacional por la Eliminación de la Discriminación Racial

Message from Carlos Quesada, executive director of Race and Equality

Washington DC, 2020, May 21st. Today we commemorate once again the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day that we at the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality), take as an opportunity to remember our universal rights to equality and non-discrimination. This message must be echoed in a context of growing intolerance, hate, and superiority speech that do not contribute to the development and well-being of our society.

We have been commemorating this day since 1966, in memory of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, when police opened fire and killed 69 people who were protesting peacefully against the Apartheid Pass Laws. Since then, racial discrimination has subsided considerably in Africa and also in Latin America.

This year, Mexico ratified the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance, thus joining Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Antigua and Barbuda; and also ratified the Inter-American Convention against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance, which entered into force with this ratification.

Also in Mexico, the inclusion of the Afro-descendant self-identification question was achieved for the first time in the 2020 Census. However, it was included late in the process, so Afro-Mexican organizations had to start their awareness campaigns just a few months before the census, which is being carried out this month. Currently, the campaign continues with great force led by the Collective to Eliminate Racism in Mexico (COPERA, for its initials in Spanish) along with Race and Equality and in alliance with some government agencies and Afro-Mexican organizations.

In Panama, we are concerned that the census scheduled for May 2020 was postponed until the first quarter of 2021, due to delays with the bidding process. This implied that all progress made on the 2020 Census was suspended, and adjustments to the next steps represent a great challenge. This is because there are several actions that must be carried out such as updating the budget, cartography, and identifying and hiring personnel, among many other duties. However, this period has allowed for the promotion of self-identification among Afro-descendants in both rural and urban communities.

In Colombia, the number of social leaders assassinated in 2019 was alarming: at least 253, of which 91 were Afro-descendant and indigenous leaders, according to the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (INDEPAZ, for its initials in Spanish). Patterns of structural racial discrimination continue to prevent Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities from having effective enjoyment of their economic, social, and cultural rights compared to the rest of the Colombian society. It is a matter of concern that given this situation, the Colombian government has not guaranteed an adequate statistical estimate of the Afro-Colombian population. This is reflected in the 2018 Census, where the black, palenquera and raizal population was reduced by 31% compared to the 2005 Census. The Government is also not offering the conditions needed for the implementation of the Peace Agreement with an ethnic-differential approach.

In Brazil, between January and February 2020, 38 trans women were killed, of whom 75% were Afro-Brazilian. This figure is particularly worrisome because it is 90% higher compared to last year’s figures. In general, most LGBT crimes are committed against Afro-descendants, according to data from the National Association of Travestis and Transsexuals (ANTRA, for its initials in Portuguese).

In Cuba, there is still no implementation plan for the International Decade for People of African Descent. We have managed to document that the majority of the activists who are victims repression by the Cuban Government are Afro-descendants, such as Juan Antonio Madrazo, Marthadela Tamayo or Nancy Alfaya. From the State’s side, there is no opening to recognize the existence of racial discrimination on the island.

From Race and Equality, we will continue to make visible, fight, and denounce the marginalization and injustices that Afro-descendant populations face in the Americas. We will continue to work, especially in the company of our counterparts in the region, who, from their communities, contribute to tehe construction of a more equal society.

Historia de Aymara Nieto, prisionera política del Estado Cubano

En los actos escolares las niñas bailan y preparan pequeñas obras de teatro, ansiosas por exhibir sus talentos al público. Pero las hijas menores de Aymara Nieto, de 7 y 12 años, no se sienten del todo contentas cuando se organizan estas actividades. Su madre no puede llegar a verlas bailar o actuar, porque desde 2018 que fue apresada por ejercer su derecho a la protesta y exigir la libertad de los presos políticos cubanos.

“Ellas quieren tener a su madre al lado el día que tienen actividad en la escuela, y ahora están privadas de eso, ellas son bastante fuertes para estar pasando lo que están pasando”, cuenta la madre de Aymara, Griselda Muñoz.

Cada mes, las niñas iban a visitar a su madre a la prisión de El Guatao, en la capital, y allí le contaban lo que no había podido ver personalmente, la abrazaban, y se llevaban las cartas que les escribía Aymara para que la recordaran en casa. Pero a mediados de marzo, Aymara fue trasladada a la prisión provincial de mujeres “El manatí”, en la Provincia de Las Tunas, casi a 700 kilómetros de distancia de La Habana, donde viven sus hijas. El cambio no fue explicado por las autoridades y la distancia hará sumamente complicado que ahora la madre de Aymara y sus hijas puedan visitarla frecuentemente.

Detención

Aymara, actualmente de 43 años, es miembro de las Damas de Blanco, un grupo de activistas, en su mayoría familiares o esposas de presos políticos del Gobierno de Cuba, que protestan para que los prisioneros de conciencia sean liberados. Aunque había pertenecido a otros grupos de la sociedad civil, se había unido a ese grupo de mujeres desde que su esposo, Ismael Bori Reñí, miembro de la Unión Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU), un grupo opositor cubano, fuera detenido en abril de 2018.

En mayo de 2018, Aymara se disponía a salir de su casa en horas del mediodía, para dirigirse a protestar como parte de la campaña “Todos Marchamos”, dirigida a presionar a las autoridades por la liberación de los prisioneros políticos. Pero ese domingo 6 de mayo no fue como lo había planeado.

“La detuvieron saliendo de la casa, le mandaron unas policías mujeres y desde que ella salió de la casa la cogieron por el pelo y sin preguntar nada, empezaron a darle golpes. Después la llevaron para la prisión de Santiago de Las Vegas, allí la tuvieron varios días como para que se le curaran los moretones”, cuenta Griselda.

Tras quince días de haber sido detenida, le permitieron a Aymara ver a sus familiares. “Mami, eso fue una patraña de ellos, lo hicieron para callarme”, le dijo la activista a su madre.

Casi un año después, en marzo de 2019, Aymara fue condenada a 4 años de prisión bajo los cargos de atentado y daños. En el juicio, la Fiscalía indicó que la Dama de Blanco “protagonizaba una manifestación contraria al proceso revolucionario”, y que mientras estaba siendo arrestada “rompió la camisa de uniforme de una oficial de la Policía, le lanzó varios manotazos y le ocasionó rasguños en el cuello”.

Durante el juicio no le permitieron tener un abogado de confianza, no se respetaron los plazos procesales, no se permitió que el proceso fuera público y la jueza se mantuvo parcializada.

Dentro de El Guatao

La vida dentro de prisión en Cuba es compleja, y aún más para una presa política. A Aymara no le han garantizado su derecho a la salud, a la alimentación o al trato digno: si se enferma, no hay medicamentos para tratarla, la comida a veces es servida en mal estado, y es maltratada por las agentes.

Las visitas que su familia le hacía en la prisión de El Guateo eran monitoreadas por agentes penitenciarias, y si denunciaba un abuso para alguna de sus compañeras, es sancionada en celdas de castigo. Las Damas de Blanco reportaron que tras el cambio de prisión de Aymara, la activista se encontraba en una celda de castigo, aunque se desconocen más detalles.

“Mi hija donde está no tiene condiciones, le violan los derechos, le están pasando los años por arriba. Yo sufro porque es mi única hija”, dice Griselda Muñoz, la madre de la activista.

El esposo de Aymara, Ismael, continúa en prisión, y desde hace 4 meses que les niegan la visita conyugal, el único espacio que tienen ambos para encontrarse. Se espera que a finales de marzo sea liberado.

En 2016, ambos ya habían sido detenidos por repartir material informativo, acusados de desorden público y condenados a un año de cárcel. Fueron liberados en julio de 2017. No obstante, Ismael fue detenido y liberado intermitentemente hasta noviembre de 2018, cuando fue acusado por tres delitos de desacato. En agosto de 2019 fue sentenciado a dos años de cárcel.

Cambio de vida

A Griselda, de 63 años, le ha tocado mudarse a la casa de Aymara y asumir la crianza de sus dos nietas. También se ha convertido en el único sustento económico de su hija y su yerno. Su nieta mayor, la primogénita de Aymara, tiene 24 años y vive de forma independiente.

“Es una tarea bastante dura. Ahora a esta edad yo ya no tengo fuerzas, pero estoy trabajando para que mis nietas no dejen de comer”, cuenta Griselda, quien ha buscado trabajo como ayudante de cocina y recepcionista. Los domingos, asiste a una iglesia con sus nietas en busca de fuerzas para seguir adelante mientras su hija sea liberada. Ese es su mayor anhelo.

“Ella (Aymara) siempre ha sido aguerrida y por eso le tienen tanta saña, que la meten presa y le hacen lo que le hacen, porque saben que ella es leal a sus principios, a las Damas (de Blanco)”, asegura.

Raza e Igualdad hace un llamado a los Estados de América Latina y el Caribe a tener en cuenta a las personas LGBTI en tiempos de crisis por COVID – 19

In the face of the of the recent crisis, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) reminds States of the importance of safeguarding the health of the entire population regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; Public policies that encompass the crisis must be thought of from intersectional approaches that address gender and human rights perspectives.

Race and Equality warns about the differential impact on rights that crises like these can have on historically marginalized and socially vulnerable populations such as LGBTI people. “The social reality of LGBTI people in Latin America and the Caribbean is characterized by precarious access to health services, education, work and comprehensive well-being, realities that must be considered by the States when designing virus containment strategies,” says Zuleika Rivera, LGBTI Program Officer at Race and Equality.

«The state of alert starts precisely because, although these measures affect the entire social group, those who have always lived in a state of vulnerability, tend to be mostly affected. For example, trans women sex workers are very affected by the strategies that are being used so far, especially because in order to eat and pay rent in the place where they live, they must work, which not only puts them at risk, but a whole social group in imminent risk, ” she continues.

The situation in Latin America

LGBTI civil society organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean expressed to us their concern about the containment strategies used by States without taking into account differential and rights-based approaches.

In Peru, for example, they have expressed concern about the impacts of the measures taken so far by the State to prevent the spread of the virus.  These strategies impact LGBT people who mostly live from informal work, as is the case of the trans population. In addition, the self-financing of trans and LGBTI foster homes is in danger.  “If the LGBTI population has to continue working or needs treatment for HIV / AIDS, how are they going to mobilize? Or if someone gets sick who guarantees that they will not be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity? ” added Santiago Balvín, an independent trans rights activist.

On the other hand, Peruvian LGBTI organizations have shown concern about the actions of Congress and what that may mean for LGBTI rights in the country, since it is a time when the rights of said population could be limited.

In the Dominican Republic, the trans organization TRANSSA has expressed uncertainty because the State has not declared a national emergency, which puts the lives of many people in the country at risk, including LGBTI people. Likewise, they pointed out that the LGBTI population with informal or independent work will be the most affected if a curfew or a national quarantine is decreed, then highlighting the state of collective panic over the disinformation in the networks about COVID-19. They also have shown concern about access to health for the population with HIV / AIDS.

In Brazil, many of the same worries were expressed by civil society organizations who explain that the State has not taken any serious action to prevent the spread of the virus and has not recommended or imposed any type of quarantine.

Given racial inequality within the country, the Afro-descendant population can suffer more serious impacts in relation to COVID-19, since they live in situations of great precariousness and are the most dependent on the health system. Many of these populations live in favelas, removed from their homes, without access to water or health, or are sex workers. Some communities have been without clean water or basic sanitation for weeks. “Mental health is another serious concern as many struggle with anxiety or depression or have a higher tendency to develop anxiety or depression, and given all the information on social media, it could lead to an increase in episodes of mental health, not to mention the detrimental effects of isolation and confinement ”pointed out, among other things, Bruna Benavides, secretary of the political coordination of the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals, ANTRA.

Some local organizations, such as ANTRA, have published recommendations for trans people who work in the informal labor market at the following link: https://antrabrasil.org/cartilhas/

In the case of Colombia, the exponential growth of the confirmed cases of people carrying COVID-19 is worrisome.[1] Although the National Government has enacted measures related to the closure of maritime and ground borders, and has promoted measures for education and work from homes to promote isolation, the lack of social and economic measures that take into account the conditions =of the most marginalized and vulnerable population is still troublesome.

In Cuba, uncertainty regarding the actions that the government may take continues.  To date, no state of emergency or quarantine has been declared. Citizens are concerned that the government is not taking drastic measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that there is no focus on self-responsibility and self-care about preventive measures that citizens can take.

Recommendations to States

Race and Equality and our counterparts call on the States of the region, and in accordance with the curfew measures that have been declared in some areas of the region, request the surveillance and protection of the human rights of those who could be most affected by these events that could affect their lives and personal integrity.

Likewise, we urge states to include LGBTI populations in their national plans to combat COVID-19 taking into account the differential impact of the crisis and to continue informing the population about the progression of the virus, as well as the services available for this population’s particular needs.

We call on States to protect the economic income of the poorest households[2] and those unable to telework; measures that allow the flexibility of payments of bank and financial obligations; policies that guarantee adequate treatment and protection for people over 60 years of age, especially those belonging to the LGBTI[3] sectors, and measures that ensure access to sanitary conditions to prevent the spread of the virus, such as access to public toilets, especially for migrants, sex workers, the homeless, and imprisoned people[4].

Additionally, we call on States not to use the health crisis to implement legislation that limits or presents setbacks in the area of ​​human and LGBTI rights.

We call on the LGBTI population to follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the WHO, remain calm, and apply preventive measures.

[1] As of March 19, 2020, at 12:00 noon, 93 cases of people carrying COVID-19 have been registered, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.

[2] LGBT people often face poverty, social exclusion, and lack of access to housing. LGBT people are often expelled from their families and schools, and in some cases they cannot even get jobs that pay the minimum wage. This situation could push them towards the informal economy or criminal activity.

[3] The lack of family support and social rejection accentuate the conditions of loneliness, isolation, poverty, and lack of access to housing and health services for LGBTI elders.

[4] «Inmates of La Picota protest against measures against the coronavirus (Covid-19)» https://www.wradio.com.co/noticias/bogota/internos-de-la-picota-protestan-por-medidas-contra-el-coronavirus-covid19/20200318/nota/4023683.aspx

En el Día Internacional de la Mujer, Raza e Igualdad honra el trabajo de las defensoras de derechos humanos

To mark March 8, International Women’s Day, the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) wishes to highlight the fundamental role played by women human rights defenders in Latin America and the Caribbean. In a region where rates of sexual and gender-based violence against women are extremely high and multiple forms of discrimination are entrenched, women human rights defenders are key in the fight for the defense of women’s human rights. Likewise, they are at the vanguard of promoting and protecting the rights of others.

Although the vast majority of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW),[1] women in the region continue to suffer inequalities that negatively impact their full enjoyment of human rights. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), more than 3,800 women in 33 countries in the region were murdered because of their gender in 2019.[2] This violence stems from structural inequalities which profoundly affect all women, but especially women members of historically marginalized groups like Afro-descendants and the LGBTI community. For example, according to the Network of Afro-Latin American, Afro-Caribbean, and Diaspora Women, Afro-descendant women are victims of multiple forms of violence, which is often racialized. Likewise, the current discourse on gender ideology in the region, driven by in large part by conservative religious groups, has led to more discrimination against lesbian, bi-sexual, and trans women, as well as more hate crimes and murders. Finally, poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean, as in other regions in the world, has a feminine face, as women are less likely to have access to higher education and work outside of the home than their male counterparts. When women do work outside of the home, they are paid, on average, 17% less than men.[3] All of these factors make the work of women human rights defenders of utmost importance. But, they are also facing some grave challenges.

In Colombia, where the post-Peace Accord reality for human rights defenders is startlingly alarming due to the high rate of murders of defenders and impunity for those murders, women human rights defenders are among the most vulnerable. As the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights recently documented, the number of women human rights defenders killed in Colombia in 2019 increased by 50% over the 2018 number.[4] Afro-descendant and rural women defenders are at generally greater risk, just as they suffer greater vulnerabilities in terms of overall enjoyment of their human rights.

In Cuba, independent women activists are facing an increase in repression and de facto house arrests, as well as reprisals and threats against themselves and their family members. Travel restrictions arbitrarily imposed by the Cuban government routinely prevent independent activists from participating in advocacy activities outside of the island and the application of these against women continues to grow. Furthermore, Cuban women are clamoring for an Integral Law against Gender Violence – a proposal which has been rejected by the National Assembly – and they continue to face difficulties in accessing decent, well-paying jobs.

In Nicaragua, the crisis that began in April 2018 has had a profound impact on women. Women human rights defenders, such as the Mothers of April, have played an important role in the opposition movement, as many have lost their children to the violence of the crisis. There has also been an overall increase in violence against women and femicides, as a result of the crisis. Furthermore, women in Nicaragua also face disproportionate economic consequences due to the crisis, as many have been left as heads of households, with male family members killed, imprisoned, or fired from their jobs because of their political ties.

In Brazil, the situation of violence against women is extremely concerning, especially against Afro-descendant and trans women. Our partners have documented that in the first two months of the year 38 trans women have been killed in the country.[5] This high level of violence makes the work of women human rights defenders – especially those working on behalf of diverse communities of women – all the more difficult and important.

Race and Equality calls on all Latin American and Caribbean States to honor the human rights commitments they have made under CEDAW and other applicable international human rights treaties, to respect and protect the rights of women. We likewise reiterate our support for women human rights defenders, especially those of our partner organizations and in the countries where we work, who so courageously and tirelessly fight to promote and defend the rights of women and others in the region on a daily basis. We thank you and assure you that you are not alone in your work towards a safer, more just, and equitable society for all.

[1] OHCHR. Status of Ratification Interactive Dashboard: CEDAW, https://indicators.ohchr.org/ (last accessed Mar. 4, 2020).

[2] ECLAC. Measuring femicide: challenges and efforts to bolster the process in Latin America and the Caribbean, Nov. 2019, available at: https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/femicide_web.pdf.

[3] UN News. More women in Latin America are working, but gender gap persists, new UN figures show, Oct. 28, 2019, available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1050121.

[4] UN News. Colombia: ‘Staggering number’ of human rights defenders killed in 2019, Jan. 14, 2020, available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1055272.

[5] See www.antrabrasil.org.

Raza e Igualdad impulsa campaña por los derechos de las prisioneras políticas en Cuba

Washington, D.C. 6 de marzo de 2020. En el marco de la conmemoración del Día Internacional de los Derechos de las Mujeres, el Instituto Internacional sobre Raza, Igualdad y Derechos Humanos (Raza e Igualdad), emprende la campaña #CubanasLibresYA, espacio que busca visibilizar la situación de derechos de las mujeres en Cuba, especialmente de aquellas que debido a su activismo político por la defensa de los derechos humanos en la isla cumplen arbitrarias e injustas condenas en las prisiones del Estado Cubano.  

La campaña que se extenderá a lo largo del primer semestre del año, busca relatar la historia de 10 mujeres que son prisioneras políticas del Estado Cubano y actualmente cumplen sentencia en diferentes centros penitencerias de Cuba, que han sido víctimas de detención domiciliaria o fueron presas políticas del gobierno a causa de su activismo.

Las historias serán recogidas en el microsite CubanasLibresYA

“Si bien la represión contra los defensores de los derechos humanos, los periodistas y otros activistas políticos es común en Cuba, su impacto particular en las mujeres no se discute con frecuencia, aun cuando las cifras de detenciones arbitrarias igualan, o en algunos casos, superan la cifra de detenciones en los varones” señala Christina Fetterhoff, Oficial Senior del Programa Legal para Raza e Igualdad. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAVpSnWMnFk

Así mismo, Fetterhoff explica que existen violencias diferenciadas en las mujeres activistas que se encuentran en estado de detención, pues existe una brecha significativa en temas de paridad de género, igualdad, reconocimiento e inclusión de derechos que impacta la vida del conjunto social al que pertenece una mujer defensora de derechos humanos cuando es detenida.  “La realidad de las mujeres cubanas es escalofriante, el pleno goce de los derechos económicos, sociales y políticos es muy limitado, razón por la cual cuando una mujer cabeza de familia es encarcelada no sólo tiene un impacto social evidente, sino que impacta desproporcionalmente la vida de la familia y comunidad del que esa mujer depende”, añade la representante de Raza e Igualdad.

La campaña pretende además poner en la agenda pública e internacional la falta de información que existe del estado de las mujeres prisioneras políticas y de las violaciones sistemáticas que al interior de los centros penitenciarios son perpetrados. “Sabemos por algunas conversaciones con ex prisioneras políticas y familiares de las aún en estado de detención que las condiciones son inhumanas, no cuentan con acceso a productos de higiene femenina, atención médica básica y condiciones seguras para dormir. Además, las llamadas telefónicas y las posibilidades de tener visitas de familiares son impedidas muchas veces. No existe información real de lo que sucede con estas mujeres, pues tampoco, ningún organismo internacional ha podido constatar su estado. Situaciones como las de Xiomara Cruz son las que se están presentando en las cárceles de Cuba muy probablemente”, infirió Christina Fetterhoff de Raza e Igualdad.

El lanzamiento de la campaña #CubanasLibresYA se lleva a cabo hoy, 6 de marzo, con ocasión de la conmemoración del Día Internacional de los Derechos de las Mujeres a través de las redes sociales de Raza e Igualdad. 

La campaña dará apertura con la historia de Martha Sánchez, una de las mujeres pertenecientes a la organización de las Damas de Blanco que hoy cumple una sentencia de cárcel de 4 años y 6 meses por portar carteles mientras se dirigia a una misa dominical.

Pueden leer la historia de Martha aquí

La invitación de Raza e Igualdad es a multiplicar el mensaje para poner en evidencia la situación de represión de los derechos humanos de defensores y defensoras de derechos humanos, que son especialmente perseguidos a causa de su filiación políticas y para evidenciar aún más la situación de derechos humanos de las mujeres que siguen siendo víctimas de lógicas machistas que persisten en el país. 

El Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión censura escena de besos entre pareja del mismo sexo

El 29 de febrero el programa televisivo cubano, Pensando en 3D, proyectó el largometraje Love, Simon, o en español “Yo soy Simon”, de origen estadounidense, que relata la historia de un adolescente gay que se enamora de otro joven adolescente. La película relata como Simon se acepta a él mismo y le dice a su familia y amigos que es gay. La película contiene una escena en la que, Nick Robinson, que encarna a Simon, besa a Bram (Josh Duhamel), pero la televisión cubana censuró esa parte de la película causando la indignación en gran parte del colectivo LGBTI cubano.

Por tal motivo activistas de la isla convocaron para el domingo 1 de marzo de 2020, a una Besada pública frente al edificio del Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT), ubicado en el Vedado. El objetivo de la acción era reclamarle al ICRT la censura de la escena, que se disculpara y que mostrara la película sin censura.

El activista cubano, Yadiel Cepero, radicado en la provincia de Matanzas, lanzó una convocatoria para una besada al frente de la ICRT. Esto conllevó a un debate en las redes sociales entre personas que defendian la postura de la ICRT y otras que le hacían echo al llamado de Cepero.

Llegado el día 1 de marzo, varios activistas denunciaron intentos de silenciarlos o amenazas a que no llegaran a Vedado. A pesar de eso y aun sabiendo que la Seguridad del Estado estaría allí o en cualquier punto para impedir que activistas y defensores de derechos humanos fueran al lugar convocado, activistas LGBTI se autoconvocaron frente al ICRT.

Tal es el caso del activista Jancel Moreno, quien se encontraba en Matanzas en casa de su novio y en la mañana se dispuso para salir hacia La Habana para reportar en vivo la Besada. Moreno se encontraba en el Viaducto de Matanzas donde esperaba para trasladarse a la capital y fue cuando un auto lo interceptó. Moreno relata que “salieron los tenientes Alejandro y David, según dijeron, y me dijeron que tenía que acompañarles. Llegamos a una casa entre Matanzas y el puente de Bacunayagua y me retuvieron ahí por varias horas con el fin de que no pudiera desplazarme hacia La Habana”.

El domingo también fue sitiado en su casa por la policía cubana el activista y artista independiente Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, quien estaba preparándose para ir a la besada pública: “Estoy sitiado por la policía política para impedirme ir a la besada fuera del ICRT. Nos vemos ahí”. La activista, Claudia Genlui Hidalgo, novia de Luis Manuel Otero, fue golpeada por la policía en medio del Barrio San Isidro, porque ella, quería impedir que se llevaran preso a Luis Manuel.

Ese mismo día, el ICRT, hizo pública una declaración en su página web diciendo que pedía disculpas por la mutilación de la escena del beso:

“Ante este error informamos que se realiza el correspondiente análisis (con las personas que quitaron la escena) pues la omisión no responde a posturas homofóbicas del ICRT y sus directos de la Televisión Cubana, como algunos han referido en las redes sociales”.

Ante esta declaración el ICRT decidió retrasmitir la película el próximo sábado con la escena del beso entre los dos adolescentes. Después de las disculpas, la convocatoria se cayó pero una descena de activistas LGBTI vocalizaron que la besada era más que por una censura en la televisión.

El director de la revista independiente Tremenda Nota y activista por los derechos LGBT, Maykel González Vivero, también fue amenazado en las redes sociales por el usuario Elpidio Valdés, quien le dijo a este que: Veremos si puedes salir (a la besada) de tu alquiler barato en el Vedado.

González Vivero, periodista independiente que cubrió la besada frente al ICRT, informó en su perfil de Facebook que el evento se habría cancelado tras la disculpa del ICRT. Muchas están de acuerdo con que la TV cubana debería hacer pública esa disculpa por algún espacio televisivo.

Cuentan varios activistas que pudieron llegar al Vedado, que la zona donde se ubica el ICRT estaba sitiada por miembros de la Seguridad del Estado y por la policía. Al igual había edificios que tenían banderas cubanas y carteles alegóricos a la Revolución cubana y a Fidel y Raúl Castro, pero pudieron llegar al menos una veintena de personas que hicieron acto de presencia frente a las oficinas del ICRT.

La Comunidad LGBTI cubana siente indignación por el hecho y recuerda varios acontecimientos ocurridos en dicho instituto, en programas televisivos donde se han propiciado ofensas hacia la comunidad gay y se han permitido, al igual, cometarios racistas. Hacemos un llamado al Estado cubano a que respete sus obligaciones internacionales, cese la discriminación contra la población LGBTI por parte de funcionarios públicos y trabaje para sensibilizar a la población y funcionarios sobre los derechos LGBTI.

En el marco de la conmemoración de su quinto aniversario, Raza e Igualdad realiza acto de Reconocimiento al Estado México por ratificación de convenciones interamericanas contra el racismo y la discriminación

Washington, D.C., 18 de febrero de 2020. El Instituto Internacional sobre Raza, Igualdad y Derechos Humanos (Raza e Igualdad) llevó a cabo, el pasado 13 de febrero, un acto de reconocimiento dirigido al Estado mexicano en reconocimiento por la reciente ratificación de la Convención Interamericana contra el Racismo, la Discriminación Racial y Formas conexas de Intolerancia, y la Convención Interamericana contra toda forma de Discriminación e Intolerancia.  Dicho evento, que se enmarca en la conmemoración del quinto aniversario de trabajo de Raza e Igualdad, se realizó en el Museo de Arte de las Américas, con la especial participación de la misión diplomática de México ante la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA).

El acto de reconocimiento convocó a embajadores ante la OEA y ONGs de derechos humanos; y contó con la presencia de la excelentísima Embajadora mexicana ante la OEA, Luz Elena Baños y la Presidenta de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH), Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño.

Durante el espacio la excelentísima Embajadora Luz Elena Baños señaló la importancia que refiere para el actual gobierno mexicano trabajar de la mano de las comunidades que han sido históricamente vulneradas, razón por la cual, resulta indispensable para México hacer uso de las herramientas necesarias para garantizar el respeto a la integridad y la dignidad de todas las personas independientemente de su género, raza u orientación sexual, entre otras.  “En este contexto, reafirmo nuestro compromiso para que, desde la OEA y en particular desde los Derechos de las Personas Lesbianas, Gay, Bisexuales, Trans e Intersex (LGBTI), se asegure que todas las personas ejerzan su derecho a una vida libre de violencia y discriminación” concluyó la Embajadora Baños.

Por su parte,  la Sra. Mitzy Bowen, y el Sr. Carlos Quesada de Raza e Igualdad destacaron la gran contribución que la ratificación de estas dos convenciones representa para combatir la discriminación que vive la población afrodescendiente e indígena en México.  Así mismo, aplaudieron el liderazgo asumido por el gobierno mexicano al ratificar Convención Interamericana contra toda forma de Discriminación  e Intolerancia, pues dicha decisión, permite que ésta entre en vigor para que sea incluida la voz de muchos sectores que sufren de discriminación e intolerancia por razones de sexo, orientación sexual, opiniones políticas, condición de migrante, nacimiento, condición infectocontagiosa estigmatizada, etc.

El Estado mexicano se encuentra trabajando por la erradicación de cualquier forma de discriminación, y la ratificación de ambas convenciones es un ejemplo de las muchas acciones que se están llevando acabo al interior del país dirigidas a favor de sus grupos étnicos y demás grupos vulnerados.

México se posesiona como el quinto país en ratificar la Convención Interamericana contra el Racismo, la Discriminación Racial y Formas conexas de Intolerancia, y el segundo en ratificar la Convención Interamericana contra toda forma de Discriminación e Intolerancia.

Raza e Igualdad felicita una vez más al Estado mexicano, y de la mano de sus contrapartes étnicas y LGBTI, espera continuar aportando para la construcción de un México mas inclusivo y libre de discriminación.

Raza e Igualdad celebra el nombramiento de personas trans en cargos públicos en Colombia y condena actos de discriminación basados en género u orientación sexual

On December 26, 2019, the mayor-elect of Manizales, a city in the Colombian department of Caldas, announced that the well-known trans activist Matilda Gonzalez would lead the city’s Office of Women’s and Gender Affairs. Gonzalez holds a law degree from the University of the Andes and a Master of Laws in international law from American University. She has worked for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)’s Rapporteurship on the Rights of LGBTI People, the LGBTI rights organization Colombia Diversa and the Office of Childhood and Adolescence in the Colombian Family Welfare Institute.  In addition, she has consulted for the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and for the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO).

In another groundbreaking appointment, the mayor-elect of Bogotá recently named Deysi Johana Olarte Navarro as the city’s Deputy Director of LGBTI Affairs. As a political scientist at the National University of Colombia, Deisy studied gender-based violence, national and international policies on transgender issues. She is also recognized for her extensive career as a grassroots activist, working with trans people in Kennedy, Ciudad Bolívar and Santa Fe, which are all among Bogotá’s most marginalized areas.

In Colombia, transgender people not only suffer daily acts of direct violence and discrimination but also face prejudices that limit their access to work, education, and health. In turn, they suffer criminalization, segregation, marginalization, and poverty. The appointments of these trans women represent breakthroughs for equity, diversity, and inclusion. As directors of important public bodies, Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Olarte will have the power to formulate and implement public policies that seek to guarantee the rights of women and LGBTI people. Race and Equality celebrates and encourages the appointment of people with diverse gender identities to executive positions. Such appointments are an opportunity to transform society’s image of what is possible, put the human right to political participation into practice, and advance the rights of the entire LGBTI population in Colombia.

However, there is still much to do. Conservative groups in Manizales responded to Ms. Gonzalez appointment with a campaign that filed more than 2,500 petitions to the Mayor’s Office asking for her dismissal.[1] The groups claim that Matilda is not suitable for the role because she was not ‘born biologically as a woman,’ a discriminatory argument ignoring the reality that there are many different possibilities for gender identity. Women’s life experiences, including their experiences of gender, are all different, making it impossible to judge their gender based only on the sex assigned to them at birth. Several bodies, including the Colombian Constitutional Court,[2] have recognized that a person’s internal and individual experience of gender differs from biological sex and that an environment which prevents someone from expressing their gender identity violates their dignity and their right to freedom of expression.

Race and Equality rejects any form of discrimination that seeks to limit the rights of transgender people and urges national, regional, and local leaders to appoint people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to public office, especially to the offices responsible for promoting and guaranteeing the rights of the LGBTI population.

[1] Conservative groups request the resignation of the Women’s Secretary of Manizales: https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/otras-ciudades/grupos-conservadores-piden-renuncia-de-matilda-gonzalez-en-manizales-452142

[2] See Colombian Constitutional Court decisions T-143 (2018), T-804 (2014), T-363 (2016), T-476 (2014) and T-562 (2013), among others.

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