Protecting the rights of LGBTQI+ persons in situations of migration and forced displacement

 

Most Latin American countries face high rates of social inequality and poverty that have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a general lack of access to fundamental rights such as employment, education, housing and health. The conditions for LGBTQI+ persons are even worse than for cis-gender and heterosexual persons. In addition to structural social exclusion, they face stigmatization, discrimination and rejection due to their sexual identity. Human rights violations are widespread, with transgender persons being particularly affected. Homicides and forced disappearances of LGBTQI+ persons are on the rise throughout the region.

This project will build evidence on the continued discrimination, exclusion, violence and lack of integration and access to justice and civic space that systematically affect LGBTQI + migrants, displaced people and refugees in Latin America (Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru) with a view to using this evidence to further policies that protect their human rights. The research will be jointly led by Dialogo Diverso from Ecuador and Colombia Diversa and seek to promote the integration of these populations in the host country with a focus on Venezuelan LGBTQI+ migrants. It will also explore experiences and good practices of strategic litigation to strengthen the rights of these populations and foster data and evidence systems on rights violations, with a focus on violent deaths and forced disappearances. The project will pursue a regional approach and support existing networks in several Latin American countries that are countries of origin/transit and return of LGBTQI+ migrants/displaced/refugees. The project will develop recommendations for policy and practice and promote their uptake with relevant public, private, multilateral, academic, media and civil society organizations.