Washington, D.C. October 24, 2018. The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) congratulates Caribe Afirmativo, a civil society organization in Colombia, for the release of its report, “Enterezas” (“Strengths”). The report is the result of intensive field work to highlight the voices of lesbian, bisexual, and trans women of the Caribbean region of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras and proposes strategies to improve the response to violence committed against these women.

The report was presented during a conference in Barranquilla, held from October 22-24, where lesbian, bisexual, and trans women from the eight departments of the Caribbean region of Colombia participated. The women, who represented various local civil society organizations, had the opportunity to share experiences and network. They also heard from various representatives of Colombian and international organizations that work to improve the rights of LGBTI persons, including Race and Equality, PROMSEX from Peru, and Aireana from Paraguay. A representative from the Rapporteurship on the Rights of LGBTI Persons from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights also participated in the conference, as well as the Mexican activist Amaranta Gomez.

Violence against lesbian and bisexual women is not well understood or documented, and therefore, the violence against these women as well as trans women all too frequently remains in impunity. Caribe Afirmativo’s report is a significant step to help these women access justice and make public all types of violence they suffer.

Race and Equality emphatically denounces violence motivated by prejudice against lesbian, bisexual, and trans women and reiterates our commitment to support them in efforts aimed toward the promotion and recognition of their rights.

More information about the report here:  http://caribeafirmativo.lgbt/2018/10/22/mujeres-lbt-del-caribe-se-reunen-encuentro-regional-enterezas/