International group condemns murders of LGTBI persons in region
From Caribbean 360
WASHINGTON D.C., United States – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is calling on countries to apply due diligence in preventing, investigating and sanctioning violence against lesbian, gay, trans, bisexual and intersex persons (LGTBI), after 23 people, including a Jamaican, were killed last month.
Dwayne Jones, 16, was found dead on July 22 after being attacked at a party he attended dressed in women’s clothing.
Leading human rights groups in Jamaica, including the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), and Quality of Citizenship Jamaica (QCJ), have also called on the government to condemn the killing and investigate the crime.
The IACHR said that it remains deeply concerned at the violence and discrimination against LGTBI, and against persons perceived as such, in Latin America and the Caribbean.
It said it is urging countries “to adopt urgent measures to prevent this violence and discrimination” noting that “there have been several cases of discrimination and violence in schools against LGTBI youth or those perceived as such, especially lesbian, gay and trans children and adolescents, perpetrated by school authorities and schoolmates” during July.
The IACHR said it was also receiving information on suicides, especially by LGTBI children and adolescents in the region.
It said during the month of July, 23 murders were committed against trans persons and trans women or those perceived as such in Brazil (9), Colombia (2), Honduras (4), Jamaica (1), Mexico (2), Paraguay (1), Peru (2), the United States (1), and Venezuela (1).
It said most of these victims were less than 35 years of age, and that “the majority of these victims were shot, most of them multiple times”.
“The Inter-American Commission urges States to take all necessary measures to apply due diligence in preventing, investigating and sanctioning violence against LGTBI persons, regardless of whether it occurs in the family, the community, or the public sphere, including education and health facilities.
“This includes the adoption of policies and public campaigns to promote awareness and respect for the human rights of LGTBI persons, in all sectors, including the educational and family settings, as a means to combat the prejudices that underlie violence related to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
“Finally, the Commission urges States to take action to prevent and respond to these human rights violations and to ensure that LGTBI persons can effectively enjoy their right to a life free from discrimination and violence.”(CMC)
PHOTO: The IACHR said it was also receiving information on suicides, especially by LGTBI children and adolescents in the Caribbean and Latin America
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Related story:
UN calls on Haitian leaders to tackle homophobic violence
By Joseph Patrick McCormick From Pink News
The United Nations in Haiti has called on political and religious leaders to take charge in the battle against homophobic violence in the country and to encourage acceptance amid a rise in anti-gay violence.
The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti released a statement expressing “deep concern”, about a recent rise in homophobic violence in the country, and urged the population of Haiti to come together to tackle the problem.
It said: “The UN Mission and United Nations agencies and programmes in Haiti are deeply concerned by the recent increase in homophobic violence in the country,
“The UN urges all Haitians to continue working together towards the construction of a state based on the respect for the rule of law; respect for others, tolerance, individual dignity and human rights.”
The statement from the UN follows the attack on a Haitian same-sex couple’s engagement party at the weekend, during which a mob reportedly threw stones, and set cars on fire.
“The UN appreciates the intervention of the national authorities to rescue victims of violence and urges increased efforts to prevent further incidents and to prosecute and hold accountable those responsible for the violence,” the statement continued.
The statement from the UN in Haiti also noted that Article 19 of the Haitian Constitution stipulates the right “to life, health, and respect of the human person for all citizens without distinction, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights”.
Calling it an “unprecedented” initiative, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon commended the campaign’s core message that “human rights are universal and we can change attitudes for the better.”
“The Secretary-General has consistently called on world leaders to address violence against LGBT members of our human family,” his spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Mr Ban is personally committed to championing this cause.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) last month criticised the spike in anti-LGBT violence in Haiti, citing a march led by the Haitian Coalition of Religious and Moral Organisations, which took place on 19 July in Port-au-Prince.
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EDITOR UPDATE: According to a report in Go-Jamaica “Police said they had arrested two men after participating in a violent attack against a British Red Cross Mission chief and his Haitian gay partner, who were organising an engagement ceremony in the Caribbean country’s capital.”
