May 17: LGBTIphobia also manifests itself in violence, censorship, and exclusion

May 17: LGBTIphobia also manifests itself in violence, censorship, and exclusion

Washington, D.C., May 18, 2026.—Every May 17, the International Day Against LGBTI-phobia serves as a reminder that millions of people around the world continue to face violence, discrimination, and exclusion because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, although some countries have made significant legal progress in recognizing rights, the reality remains marked by hate crimes, stigmatizing rhetoric, social exclusion, persecution of activists, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms.

On the occasion of the International Day Against LGBTIphobia, the Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights (Race and Equality) wishes to remind everyone that LGBTIphobia manifests itself not only through physical attacks but also through censorship, silencing, criminalization, lack of access to rights, and the inability to live freely and with dignity.

As we commemorate this day, we recognize that defending the rights of LGBTI+ people continues to be a defense of democracy, freedom, and human rights for all of society. Below, we share a brief overview of the human rights situation of this population in countries where Race and Equality advocates and works alongside partners.

Brazil: Legal Progress Amid High Levels of Violence

In Brazil, the situation of LGBTI+ people is marked by profound contradictions. Although the country has made significant progress—such as the recognition of same-sex marriage since 2013 and the right of transgender people to change their name and gender marker on identity documents without the need for surgery or court orders—thousands of people continue to face violence, discrimination, and exclusion.

Transgender people are the primary targets of these types of attacks, as evidenced by the fact that Brazil has recorded the highest number of murders of transgender people every year for the past 18 years, according to the Transgender Murder Monitor (TMM) of Transgender Europe and Central Asia (TGEU).

Added to this are the hate speech and political polarization of recent years, which have contributed to legitimizing attacks against LGBTI+ people and those who defend human rights.

Hate speech directed at women in political office in Brazil is rife with racist and transphobic remarks aimed at undermining their political participation, as in the case of Federal Deputy Erika Hilton, who was the target of transphobic remarks after being elected chair of the Committee on the Defense of Women’s Rights. Following her appointment, public statements were made questioning her gender identity and seeking to delegitimize her role in an institutional body dedicated to promoting women’s rights.

Recently, the actions of a representative came to light who, during a plenary session of the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly, performed a “blackface” act while delivering a speech opposing the rights of transgender women—an act that was widely criticized by human rights organizations and sectors of civil society.

Meanwhile, a study by the Marielle Franco Institute highlighted the severity of digital political violence directed specifically against Black women and LGBTQIA+ individuals; according to the study, 71% of the recorded threats involved references to death or rape, while 63% of the death threats made direct mention of Marielle Franco’s murder.

Cuba: Diversity Under Surveillance and Repression

In Cuba, the situation of LGBTI+ people cannot be analyzed without considering that seven years ago, on May 11, 2019, the historic 11M took place: an independent march against homophobia and transphobia that ended with arbitrary detentions, surveillance, and persecution of activists. That day marked a turning point for LGBTI+ activism on the island and highlighted the limits imposed by the state on free expression, peaceful protest, and independent organization.

Many of the people who participated in that demonstration have since faced harassment, criminalization, and even forced exile.

Although there have been some legal advances in recent years—such as the recognition of same-sex marriage and other family rights through the new Family Code—the reality for many LGBTI+ people continues to be marked by a lack of fundamental freedoms and guarantees.

The current economic, social, and political crisis on the island has deepened inequalities, precariousness, and vulnerability among broad sectors of the population, including activists, transgender people, and human rights defenders.

Against this backdrop, thousands of people have emigrated in search of decent living conditions, freedom, and security. LGBTI+ people are no strangers to this reality: many have been forced to leave the country after suffering persecution, censorship, or a lack of opportunities. Both from exile and from within Cuba, activists and organizations continue to denounce human rights violations and demand a society where diversity is not punished.

Colombia: Persistent Violence and Barriers to Living with Dignity

In Colombia, LGBTI+ people continue to face high levels of violence, discrimination, and exclusion, in a context marked by historical inequalities and the persistent impact of armed conflict and territorial violence.

Trans people, social leaders, and human rights defenders remain particularly vulnerable to threats, attacks, and hate crimes. The report “The Impacts of Violence on the Human Rights Situation in Colombia,” presented by the IACHR in December 2025, notes that between 2016 and September 2024, the Attorney General’s Office reported at least 33 murders of LGBTI+ individuals in social leadership roles, while in 2023 alone, civil society documented at least 13 cases.

On May 7 and 8, the organization Caribe Afirmativo reported the murders of two transgender women in Antioquia, bringing the total number of LGBTI+ murders recorded by its Human Rights Observatory to 29.

Amid this situation, civil society organizations are campaigning for the passage of the Comprehensive Trans Bill, also known as the “Sara Millerey Law,” in memory of the human rights defender and trans activist murdered in April 2025. This law seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework that specifically regulates the rights of transgender people, from a perspective of intersectionality, a differential approach, and progressive rights.

In addition to physical violence, LGBTI+ people face stigmatizing rhetoric and disinformation campaigns that seek to discredit their rights and undermine the progress achieved through years of struggle and social mobilization.

Nicaragua: Fear, Exile, and the Shrinking of Civic Space

In Nicaragua, the situation facing LGBTI+ people cannot be separated from the broader context of repression, the shrinking of civic space, and the persecution of critical voices and civil society organizations.

In recent years, the criminalization of activists, forced exile, the dissolution of organizations, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms have profoundly impacted those who defend human rights and support LGBTI+ people.

Although discrimination and violence against LGBTI+ people have historically been overlooked, the current repressive climate has heightened fear, censorship, and the lack of safe spaces to report abuses, organize collectively, or raise awareness of issues related to equality and diversity.

Many LGBTI+ people, activists, and human rights defenders have been forced to leave the country due to the risk of persecution, surveillance, or reprisals. From exile and through resistance within Nicaragua, they continue to denounce human rights violations and defend the right to live free from discrimination and violence.

Defending Rights Also Means Resisting

On the International Day Against LGBTIphobia, acknowledging the situation of LGBTI+ people in Latin America and the Caribbean also means recognizing that discrimination does not occur in isolation. Violence, censorship, persecution, and exclusion tend to intensify in contexts where democracy, freedom of expression, and civic space are also weakened.

Although there are legal frameworks and court rulings that recognize the fundamental rights of LGBTI+ people, everyday reality shows that effective access to equality and a life free from violence remains an unfulfilled promise.

Many people continue to live under threat, especially in outlying areas and historically marginalized communities.

At Race and Equality, we recognize the work of activists, organizations, and communities that, despite such adverse conditions, continue to resist, denounce human rights violations, and create spaces for support, remembrance, and dignity.

Cuba’s independent civil society, ready for a democratic transition

For more than a decade, we have been fortunate to work with Cuba’s independent civil society. We have seen their commitment to human rights, their dedication to documenting the violations that happen in the country, and their courage in exposing them. We have witnessed—through urgent messages and calls that lead to reactions by our legal team—arbitrary detentions, summary trials, surveillance, harassment, raids, forced exile, and, more recently, blackouts and food and medicine shortages. We have also faced our own negative impacts from this work – personal and institutional attacks, as well as skepticism on the part of former allies who have questioned our human rights work in general because of our work exposing the Cuban reality.

As a capacity building organization, we have trained independent activists on and off the Island on civil society engagement with human rights protection mechanisms. Through systematic documentation of human rights violations – analyzed according to the international legal standards to which the Cuban State has adhered – we have supported them to denounce cases of torture, enforced disappearance, censorship, and discrimination before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and United Nations Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures. By advocating for Cuba’s compliance with its international human rights obligations, our partners have been laying the groundwork for democratic transition for years. Their work is not merely opposition; it is preparatory governance.

While Washington and Havana negotiate the future of the island nation, the work, dedication, and perseverance of independent activists, journalists, and artists on the Island and in exile to fight for human rights and promote democratic ideals should not go unrecognized. They are the ones who have been collecting and sharing the evidence of the Cuban regime’s atrocities and this documentation should serve as a key element of any future government transition. While the Cuban government has maintained a monolithic façade, a diverse and resilient independent civil society has been quietly building the architecture of a free society from the ground up. The future of Cuba cannot happen without them.

The international community has recognized that in any transitional justice process, five elements must be considered: truth, justice, memory, reparation, and guarantees of non-repetition. It is not possible to achieve any of these without records of what has occurred during the undemocratic era and Cuban human rights defenders have been preparing already, as independent journalists break the state monopoly on information (truth); independent lawyers file habeas petitions before Cuban courts and cases before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (justice); activists document patterns of abuses committed by State actors (memory); community groups provide aid where the State fails (reparation); and organizations like ours provide the tools to foster civic dialogue and democratic norms (non-repetition).

The most profound preparation lies in the commitment to the historical record. By creating databases of human rights violations and preserving the testimony of victims, independent groups are preventing the “erasure” that often follows authoritarian regimes. They understand that you cannot have justice without a record of the crime, and you cannot guarantee non-repetition if the history of the past is allowed to vanish into state archives. This is not just protest; it is the fundamental administrative labor required to restore the rule of law.

The international community must stop viewing Cuba as a passive recipient of history. The groundwork for a democratic transition—the human capital, the legal theories, and the civic courage—is already in place. The transition will not be a gift from the top down; it will be the formal recognition of a reality that independent civil society has been living for decades. Cubans are not waiting for democracy to be handed to them; they have been building it, brick by brick, in the face of immense adversity. It is time the world starts paying attention to the foundation they have laid.

Statement written by:

Carlos Quesada, Executive Director

Christina M. Fetterhoff, Director of Programs

  • Learn more about our work in Cuba over more than a decade here.



The Conviction for the Murder of Marielle Franco Must Translate into Structural Guarantees Against Gender-based Political Violence in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, March 4, 2026.– The historic conviction of the brothers Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão to 76 years and 3 months in prison for the murder of city councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes represents not only the end of a long cycle of impunity, but also a milestone in the legal recognition of the seriousness of gender-based political violence in Brazil.

For the Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights (Race and Equality), this ruling sets an important precedent, but it also puts the Brazilian state to the test: justice in a landmark case must be accompanied by structural changes that guarantee non-repetition and the effective protection of women in public life, especially those who face multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination.

As defined by Law No. 14.192/2021, gender-based political violence is any action that aims to impede, hinder, or nullify the political rights of women simply because they are women. In the case of Marielle, a Black woman, raised in the Maré favela, and a human rights defender, this violence was taken to its ultimate consequences. As Minister Alexandre de Moraes highlighted in his vote, the crime combined ‘political issues with misogyny, racism, and discrimination,’ pointing out that the councilwoman ‘was a poor Black woman who was standing up to the interests of militiamen.’ Minister Cármen Lúcia also echoed this sentiment when reflecting on the historical weakening of women as subjects of rights: ‘Killing one of us is much easier […] Because ‘nothing will happen’.’

This vulnerability denounced by the minister reaches even more critical levels when it comes to LBTI women (lesbians, bisexuals, transvestites, transsexuals, and intersex). Official data reveals an alarming scenario: between 2015 and 2022, notifications of violence against lesbian women grew by 50%, and Brazil is among the countries with the highest rates of murder of trans people. These numbers show that, for LBTI women, political violence is aggravated by structural LBTIphobia, which places them in a position of extreme vulnerability in spaces of power and decision-making.

It was in this context that the federal government launched, in September 2025, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the humanized care of LBTI women in situations of violence. The protocol establishes fundamental guidelines so that the care network respects the gender identity and sexual orientation of the victims, avoiding re-victimization and ensuring qualified listening and access to justice.

However, it is important to emphasize that the adoption of protocols of this nature must be accompanied by sufficient budgetary allocation, mandatory training for public officials, accountability mechanisms, and independent monitoring systems that allow for the evaluation of their real impact. The enhanced due diligence required by international human rights law obliges the Brazilian State not only to investigate and punish, but also to prevent, protect, and provide comprehensive reparations.

In this regard, Race and Equality calls on United Nations mechanisms (in particular the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls and the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and diplomatic missions accredited in Brazil to actively monitor the implementation of structural measures that guarantee the safety and a life free of violence for Black women, LBTI women, and women human rights defenders.

The conviction of the Brazão brothers and their accomplices cannot be seen merely as the outcome of a criminal investigation. It must represent a turning point in the fight against gender-based political violence in Brazil. Marielle Franco’s memory demands that the Brazilian State continue to advance in the implementation of effective public policies to protect all women who dare to occupy politics (especially those who, due to their race, sexual orientation, or gender identity, are even more exposed to violence and erasure).

Marielle Lives!

 

We condemn violence against Danne Belmont, trans leader and executive director of the GAAT Foundation in Colombia

Bogotá, February 2, 2026 – The International Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights expresses its solidarity with Danne Belmont, executive director of the Trans Support and Action Group Foundation (GAAT), and her partner, who were victims of transphobic violence on February 1, 2026, in Bogotá, Colombia.

At Race and Equality, we strongly reject all forms of violence based on prejudice, particularly that directed against people because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. This incident constitutes a serious violation of human rights and is part of a broader context of structural violence that transgender people in the region persistently face.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), in its country report, indicated that Colombia is one of the countries in the region with the highest number of violent deaths of LGBTI people. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, there were 302 murders. Colombia ranks third in Latin America in terms of the number of murders of transgender people, which highlights an extremely dangerous situation. In turn, according to figures from the Defensoría del Pueblo, as of May 2024, this institution had dealt with nearly 290 incidents of violence against people with diverse sexual orientations and identities, including physical violence.

In its observations following its 2024 on-site visit, the IACHR warned of the persistence of violence against this population and the obstacles that LGBTI people face in accessing justice, especially in areas affected by armed conflict. Similarly, the Defensoría del Pueblo has warned of an increase in extreme violence against women and people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, both in private and public spaces, and insisted that every femicide and transfemicide is preventable if the State acts in a timely manner.

We deeply recognize and value the work that Danne Belmont has done as a trans leader and human rights defender, as well as the historic work of the GAAT Foundation in promoting, protecting, and defending the rights of trans people, particularly those in situations of greater vulnerability. Attacks against social leaders and human rights defenders seek to silence voices that are fundamental to building more just and inclusive societies, and cannot be tolerated.

We urgently call on the Colombian State and the competent authorities to conduct prompt, thorough, and gender-based investigations, guaranteeing effective access to justice, the punishment of those responsible, and the adoption of adequate protection measures for Danne Belmont and her partner.

At Race and Equality, we reiterate our commitment to the eradication of transphobia, discrimination, and violence, and we reaffirm that the dignity, life, and integrity of transgender people must be fully guaranteed.

To Danne, her partner, and the GAAT Foundation: know that you are not alone. We stand with you in solidarity and respect, and we reaffirm our commitment to walk alongside you, support your struggles, and raise our voices firmly and consistently.

 

MUDE, a shelter threatened for defending the rights of black women and children in Palmira, Colombia

Bogotá, October 20, 2025 – On July 15, 2024, members of the Movimiento de mujeres unidas, diversas y emancipadas (MUDE, by its initials in Spanish) reported that, in the early hours of the morning, several people violently entered the house where the organization’s headquarters were located, in the municipality of Palmira, Valle del Cauca. Through their social media accounts, they made public how computers were destroyed, along with the shelter of more than 300 people, including children, adolescents, and black and diverse women from this region of Colombia who are beneficiaries of MUDE. 

That day, the women of this organization felt that the “last straw had been drawn,” after years of threats, harassment, acts of racism, transphobia, and hate campaigns spread through social media. They were left with a clear message: if they continue to do this work, their lives are in danger.

A year after the raid, the events remain unpunished and the members of MUDE continue to denounce what happened and demand recognition and guarantees of their rights in this area of the Colombian Pacific. “We continue to call on the authorities and other organizations to listen to us and respond to our demands. We want to know that we have support, that our lives matter, that people care about what happens to MUDE, to children, and to diversity,” says María Camilia Saa, a member of the organization. 

The Movimiento de mujeres unidas, diversas y emancipadas was founded in 2019 and, since then, has accompanied and transformed the lives of more than 6,000 children, adolescents, women of African descent, and diverse women, along with their families, in Palmira and other municipalities in Valle del Cauca. Sady Carreazo, another member, affirms that MUDE is a space for “collectivization.” 

“Coming together guarantees the lives of Black people; it is another way in which we can be and live in freedom. It is another opportunity to study, work, be, and express ourselves,” adds Carreazo. The organization promotes advocacy, training, and visibility strategies with an ethnic and diverse focus through art and music. One example of this is MUDE’s Agojie group, whose songs address issues such as Afro hair, feminism, and sexual and gender dissidence.

Following the attack, MUDE was forced to relocate its headquarters to another area of Palmira, while its members continue to report ongoing threats and harassment due to their diverse identities and their work defending the rights of their communities.

From the Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights (Race and Equality) expresses its support for MUDE and reiterates its urgent call on the competent authorities to act diligently, guarantee the protection of its members, and ensure that acts such as these do not go unpunished. Defending the lives, diversity, and leadership of Black and diverse women is an inescapable responsibility of the Colombian state.



We condemn the attack against Venezuelan human rights defenders Yendri Velásquez and Luis Peche, an example of transnational repression

Bogotá, October 14, 2025 – On Monday, October 13, 2025, Venezuelan activists Yendri Velásquez and Luis Alejandro Peche were victims of a shooting in northern Bogotá. Both were wounded in the legs and are recovering and out of danger. According to official information, three armed men intercepted them and shot them repeatedly before fleeing the scene. The Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights (Race and Equality) strongly condemns this attack, which represents a new case of transnational repression, a form of political persecution that seeks to silence those who defend human rights even beyond their borders.  

“We are alarmed by the growth of transnational repression in Latin America: a practice that seeks to punish activism and silence critical voices, even in exile. This attack against Yendri and Luis violates not only their right to life, but also the collective right to defend human rights,” said Carlos Quesada, Executive Director of Race and Equality.  

Yendri Omar Velásquez Rodríguez is a renowned Venezuelan LGBTIQ+ advocate and founder of the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTIQ+ Violence. In 2024, he received the Human Rights and Rule of Law Award from the French and German embassies; but that same year, in August, he was the victim of state persecution when he was preparing to travel to Geneva to participate in a session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. He was arbitrarily detained at Maiquetía airport and his passport was revoked. Weeks later, he was forced into exile in Colombia.

Luis Alejandro Peche Arteaga, 34, is an internationalist and political consultant. He was an advisor to the Venezuelan National Assembly between 2017 and 2018, during the opposition’s parliamentary presidency, and collaborated with citizen participation organizations such as Voto Joven. In 2025, he left Caracas after receiving threats.  

This attack is part of a pattern of transnational violence that is becoming increasingly visible in the region. In June 2025, Race and Equality condemned the murder of retired Nicaraguan Army Major Roberto Samcam in San José, Costa Rica, an event that demonstrated that the persecution of critical and opposition voices transcends national borders.  

Urgent call to the Colombian State 

In this context, Race and Equality urgently and respectfully calls on the Colombian State to adopt immediate and effective protection measures, through the National Protection Unit, in order to safeguard the lives, integrity, and safety of Yendri Velásquez, Luis Peche, and their families. It also urges the Attorney General’s Office to conduct a prompt, thorough, and expeditious investigation to identify those responsible for planning and carrying out the attack and to ensure that there is no impunity.  

Similarly, it calls on the authorities to coordinate actions with international organizations such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with the aim of strengthening the institutional response and providing specialized support.  

Race and Equality also calls on the State to strengthen national protection policies for defenders, journalists, and social leaders, incorporating an intersectional, differential, and gender-based approach that recognizes the multiple vulnerabilities faced by migrant and LGBTIQ+ defenders. 

Finally, we urge the international community, social organizations, and civil society not to remain silent in the face of these events. We strongly condemn expressions of transnational repression in Latin America and the Caribbean, and we reaffirm our commitment to accompany and stand in solidarity with the victims of these acts of violence.  

Protecting the lives of those who defend human rights is a collective commitment and a universal ethical obligation. Defending rights cannot continue to be a risk that is paid for with one’s life. Colombia and the entire region must be territories of refuge and hope, not spaces where fear and persecution are prolonged. 

 

Race and Equality will hold two Kátia Tapety School meetings in Colombia

Bogotá, September 16, 2025 – The Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights (Race and Equality), in partnership with the Grupo de Acción y Apoyo a personas Trans (GAAT) and the Fundación Somos Identidad, will hold two meetings of the Kátia Tapety School of Political Training in Colombia, which will take place on September 23 in Cali and on September 26 in Bogotá.

The Kátia Tapety School of Political Training is a project of the Institute created in Brazil in 2022, with the purpose of training LBTI, black, and indigenous women so that they can fully participate in spaces of power and decision-making. Since its creation, more than 60 women leaders in Brazil have participated in these training sessions.

The program is named after Kátia Tapety, recognized as the first transvestite elected by direct vote in Brazil in 1992, whose political legacy is a benchmark in Latin America for the defense of human rights and the expansion of political participation by trans women, transvestites, black women, and indigenous women.

During the meetings to be held in Colombia, sessions will be held on the following topics:

  • Concepts and scope of political participation.
  • Manifestations and consequences of political violence.
  • International mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
  • Exchange of experiences and lessons learned from the School in Brazil.

If you are an LBTI, Black, or Indigenous person and would like to participate in this space, please register at the following link. Space is limited: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/sckf9qMPXt 



Pride in Resistance: Persistent Challenges to LGBTI+ Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean

Washington, D.C., June 28, 2025.– LGBTI+ Pride Day was born from an act of protest and resistance in the face of discrimination and violence, and although it was an important turning point in the fight for the rights of people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, the truth is that 56 years after the Stonewall protests on June 28, 1969 in New York,  resistance is not past, it is present, especially in a region that marginalizes and violates LGBTI+ people.

In commemoration of LGBTI+ Pride Day, from the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality), we recognize that Latin America and the Caribbean has experienced important advances in legislative terms, such as protection against discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, equal marriage, and the recognition of gender identity for trans and non-binary people.

However, we emphasize that the region continues to face serious challenges to the effective application of this legislation, in addition to registering worrying figures of violence and murders against LGBTI+ people. This scenario is aggravated by the increase in hate speech by anti-rights groups, the installation of authoritarian governments in several countries and the drastic reduction of international cooperation.

The murder of people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is a reality in Latin America, to the point that the region ranks as the most dangerous in the world for trans people, especially trans women. In this context, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia are the countries with the highest number of cases: According to Trans Murder Monitoring, between October 2023 and September 2024, there were 106 murders in Brazil, 71 in Mexico and 25 in Colombia.

In Colombia, the brutal murder in April 2025 of trans activist and human rights defender Sara Millerey has inspired the struggle for the approval of the Comprehensive Trans Law project, which in recent days was formally introduced for debate in the Congress of the Republic, marking a milestone in the struggle for the recognition and guarantee of the rights of trans and non-binary people in the country.

On the other hand, the restriction of civic space in countries such as Cuba and Nicaragua, and the approval of laws that limit and condition the work of non-governmental organizations in the field of human rights, as happened recently in El Salvador and Peru, is a serious setback in the fight for the rights of LGBTI+ people.

Added to this, is the sudden and drastic reduction in international cooperation since the suspension of funds by the United States government, which puts at risk years of community work, protection networks, basic services (such as health, shelter, legal care) and political participation. Without this support, many organizations cannot sustain themselves, especially in contexts where there are no real public policies of inclusion.

In the midst of this reality, we reaffirm our commitment to promote and defend the rights of LGBTI+ people, mainly before the human rights protection mechanisms of the United Nations and the Inter-American System. But we also call on the international community, governments and civil society to protect this population and guarantee their rights.

Today more than ever, pride must be translated into action, because for LGBTI+ people, resisting is not a symbolic act: it is a way to survive.

Trans Remembrance: TGEU registers one of the highest numbers of murders of trans persons in the world

TGEU’s Trans Murder Monitoring warns that this increase occurs in the context of the advance of anti-democratic and transphobic movements.

Washington DC, November 20, 2024 – Today, on Trans Day of Remembrance, the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) emphasizes the urgency of driving concrete action to eradicate hate crimes globally. This year, the Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM) of Transgender Europe and Central Asia (TGEU), has documented the highest number of murders of trans and gender-diverse persons in its history.

Between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, it registered 350 murders worldwide, with Latin America and the Caribbean being the region with the highest rates, with 70% of recorded murders occurring in the region.[1] Unfortunately, for the seventeenth consecutive year, Brazil has the highest share of murders in the region (30%).

In addition, TGEU reports that, of the total, 94% of the victims were black or brown trans women and the majority were trans sex workers (46%).

Anti-democratic and transphobic advances

As civil society and human rights organizations in the region have denounced, this increase is in response to the global context of the consolidation of anti-gender and anti-rights movements that promote anti-democratic and transphobic political agendas, whose messages are based on false and stigmatizing information. Disinformation, the impunity with which hate speech is propagated, and the lack of solid legislation that prevents, punishes, and implements measures of non-repetition are some of the causes.

In this sense, Race and Equality calls on States to comply with their international obligations and, consequently, to adopt urgent and concrete measures that guarantee the integrity of trans persons. Below are some recommendations in line with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations:

  • Adopt laws and policies that facilitate the modification of the “name”, “sex”, or “gender” component in the official identification documents of trans and gender-diverse persons, to guarantee legal recognition in line with what is dictated by the standards of the 24/17 Advisory Opinion.
  • Systematically collect data on acts of violence and murders against trans and gender-diverse persons, disaggregated by gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic-racial identity, and age.
  • Have a public policy with a gender focus for investigations into violence and murders against trans and gender-diverse persons, respecting their social name and the identity of the person, as well as the establishment of guarantees of non-repetition.
  • Monitor and publicly sanction transphobic discourse reproduced in public and private institutions and in the media that calls for discrimination and violence against the trans and gender-diverse population.
  • Promote, through institutions and official channels, a campaign to educate and raise awareness about sexual orientation and gender identity among the general population, public officials, and public service personnel, to generate a context of recognition and respect for the integrity and life of trans and gender-diverse persons.

Race and Equality will continue to promote and defend the human rights of trans and gender-diverse persons, supporting their national and international advocacy actions, their research, and the modification of components in their identity documents. It is urgent and necessary that we work together so that the voices of trans and gender-diverse persons are heard loudly.

[1] Transgender Europe and Central Asia (TGEU) 2023 Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM). Available at https://tgeu.org/files/uploads/2024/11/TGEU-TMM-TDoR2024-Table-2.pdf

In the face of the rise of the extreme right in Latin America and the Caribbean, Afro-Latino, Indigenous and LGBTI+ leaders held advocacy meetings in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C., October 16, 2024 – In the face of the growing influence of far-right movements and the worrying advance of racist and xenophobic agendas in Latin America and the Caribbean, a delegation of Afro-Latino, Indigenous, and LGBTI+ leaders, led by the Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights (Race and Equality), held key advocacy meetings in Washington D.C. with the U.S. Congress, the Department of State and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. During these meetings, the delegation presented critical perspectives on problems such as racial and gender discrimination, police brutality and the systematic lack of access to essential services such as health and education. 

The delegation also presented recommendations to promote the formulation and integration of more inclusive and equitable policies in key frameworks such as the Joint Plan of Action for Racial and Ethnic Equality (JAPER), the Plan for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in the Americas (CAPREE), and the North American Declaration of Partnership for Racial Equity and Justice.  

During the meetings, Mauricio Ye’kwana, Executive Director of Hutukara, addressed the crisis of violence facing indigenous territories in Brazil, highlighting the constant threats arising from illegal mining exploitation and the lack of government recognition of their ancestral lands. Ye’kwana pointed to the government’s neglect to protect them and the impunity surrounding the killings of indigenous leaders. He also warned about the concerning recruitment of indigenous youth into armed groups, which weakens community unity. In addition, he made an urgent call for indigenous representation in international forums such as the COP, emphasizing the need to recognize their rights, both individual and collective, in the defense of territory and the environment. 

Bruna Benevides, President of the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (ANTRA), of Brazil, exposed the human rights violations faced by trans women, especially black trans women. Benevides noted that the racial component of transfemicide is deeply rooted in Brazilian society, and that black trans women are disproportionately affected by violence and exclusion. Benevides also emphasized the lack of representation of trans people in anti-racist movements and that the invisibilization of their issues within LGBTQ+ spaces is a key concern.  

For her part, Lucía Xavier, Executive Director of CRIOLA (Brazil) warned about a conservative wave that has spread through Brazil and that significantly increased violence against black women, both cis and trans, who face multiple barriers to accessing basic resources due to discriminatory financing policies. Xavier called for greater political representation of Black women, as well as effective public policies that protect their rights and promote their well-being. 

María Martínez, of the Socio-Cultural Movement of Haitian Workers (MOSCTHA), denounced the constant threat of expulsion and police brutality suffered by Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican government’s recent policy of deporting 10,000 Haitians per week has exacerbated the discrimination and structural racism already suffered by these communities, with Haitian women being particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence. Martínez also explained that the lack of civil recognition and the situation of statelessness exclude these people from access to basic services such as health and education.  

Erlendy Cuero, vice president of the National Association of Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES) of Colombia, warned about the difficult situation of Afro-descendant youth in Colombia, particularly affected by violence and armed conflict. Racial discrimination by security forces has resulted in an alarming increase in homicides and enforced disappearances of young Afro-Colombians, who are frequently stigmatized and treated as suspects only because of their skin color.  

Sandra Arizabaleta, Director of the Afro-descendant Foundation for Social and Sexual Diversities “Somos Identidad” (Colombia) explained how political polarization in Colombia has exacerbated violence and discrimination against Afro-descendant and LGBTI+ people. For Arizabaleta, it is urgent to create public policies that effectively address the intersectionality between race, gender, and sexual orientation, something that is currently absent in Colombian political discourse. She also denounced the violence that still persists on the part of armed groups against these vulnerable populations. 

Cecilia Ramírez, Executive Director of the Center for the Development of Peruvian Black Women (CEDEMUNEP), Peru explained that the Afro-Peruvian development plan, which was designed to improve the conditions of these communities, has stalled due to a lack of financial resources and technical support. Ramírez also emphasized how structural racism continues to be an obstacle to the social and economic progress of people of African descent in Peru, who continue to have the worst socioeconomic indicators. She proposed the implementation of ethnic quotas to ensure the political representation of Afro-descendants and indigenous people, and emphasized the need for more inclusive self-identification processes that consider both gender and ethnicity. 

Patricia Torres Sandoval, Representative of the Continental Link of Indigenous Women of the Americas (ECMIA), focused her intervention on violence against indigenous women and girls, emphasizing how this situation is aggravated by the structural violence that comes from racism, poverty and colonialism. She also underscored the devastating impact of extractive activities in the region, which not only cause environmental destruction, but also deepen poverty and social exclusion of indigenous communities, intensifying violence against women. Torres stressed that the lack of political will and the ineffective implementation of international agreements contribute to the marginalization and exclusion of these communities, which requires urgent and sustained attention. 

Finally, the leaders presented a series of key recommendations to the authorities, focused on strengthening representation, promoting inclusive policies and ensuring accountability: 

  • Fund programs that promote the leadership and political participation among Afro-Latino, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
  • Urge Latin American and Caribbean governments to adopt legislation that protects marginalized communities while promoting anti-racist and anti-discrimination policies based on SOGIESC, incorporating an intersectional approach. 
  • Implement effectively bilateral and trilateral agreements focused on addressing violence against marginalized populations, including Indigenous and Black women, like JAPER, CAPREE and North American Declaration on Partnership for Equity and Racial Justice. 
  • Facilitate dialogue between governments and civil society to improve transparency in human rights monitoring and ensure accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses.

Race and Equality strongly supports these recommendations and reaffirms its commitment to continue accompanying these leaders in promoting their voices before government agencies and other advocacy spaces. It will also continue to work on documenting human rights violations and building proposals that foster more inclusive, equitable, and respectful societies. 

 

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