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2 NO SAFE PLACE membership and publicdonations. religion andarefundedmainlyby our political ,economicinterest or We areindependentofanygovernment, international humanrightsstandards. Declaration ofHumanRightsandother all therightsenshrinedinUniversal Our visionisforeverypersontoenjoy areenjoyedbyall. campaign foraworldwherehuman of morethan7millionpeoplewho Amnesty Internationalisaglobalmovement © AmnestyInternational/SergioOrtiz South border. SuchiateRiver amnesty.org November 2017 Index: AMR01/7258/2017 INVISIBILITY 19 TO JUSTICE NO EFFECTIVEACCESS 18 RE-VICTIMIZATION ANDSTIGMA 14 THE AUTHORITIES NO PROTECTIONFROM 12 VIOLENCE WIDESPREAD GENDER-BASED 6 DEPORTATION: SENTBACKTOHELL 27 DETENTIONS 22 MEXICO: ADANGEROUSPATH 20

3 NO SAFE PLACE 4 NO SAFE PLACE 6 5 4 3 2 1 generally usedtoreferfemale homosexualityandgaytomalehomosexuality. The capacityofeachpersontofeeladeepemotional,affective andsexualattractiontopeopleofthesamegenderthecapacitymaintainintimate sexualrelationswiththesepeople.Thetermlesbianis Amnesty International,HomeSweetHome?Honduras,Guatemala andElSalvador’sroleinadeepeningrefugeecrisis,AMR01/4865/2016,2016.Available atwww.amnesty.org/es/documents/amr01/4865/2016/en/ and Honduras. Terms usedtoindicatecertaingroupscharacterizedbyviolentcriminalactivitiesand generallyassociatedwithterritorialcontrolthroughouttheNorthern Triangle ofCentralAmerica,particularlyElSalvador Instituto Igarapé.HomicideMonitor, 2016,available athomicide.igarape.br (National CivilPolice). an epidemiclevel..However, in2016,themurderrateElSalvadorwasrecordedas81.2per100,000inhabitants(NationalCivilPolice),Honduras58.9100,000(SEPOL)andGuatemala27.3per The World HealthOrganization(WHO)considersamurderrateofmorethan10per100,000inhabitantstobe action on“hiddentragedy”ofpeopleleeinggangviolence”August2017,availableatwww.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21985&LangID=E report ontheactivitiesofhisoficeinHonduras2016,para.4,availableathttp://ap.ohchr.org/do cuments/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/34/3/Add.2, UnitedNations,pressrelease“ElSalvador:UNexperturgesswift See OficeoftheUNHighCommissionerforHumanRights(OHCHR),annualreportonactivitieshisoficeinGuatemala2016,availableat:ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/31/3/Add.1; a nnual

Tenosique downtown © Amnesty International/Sergio Ortiz identity and/orsexualorientation. of societymorewidelyandinstitutionally,onthebasistheirgender face inthedifferentspheresoftheirfamilyandworkinglife,aspart intrinsically tothemultipleformsofdiscriminationthatLGBTIpeople violence intheNorthernTriangle countries,andthatthisisrelated andIntersexpeople(LGBTI)areparticularlyexposedto governments, thereisevidencethatLesbian,Gay,Bisexual, Despite thedificultyinobtainingaccurateiguresfromcountries’ seriously affectingpeople’sabilitytoexercisetheirhumanrights. and increasingterritorialcontrolonthepartofgangsor“maras”is particularly inElSalvadorandHonduraswherehighlevelsofviolence concluded thatviolencehasbecomeakeypushfactorformigration, “Home SweetHome?”conductedbyAmnestyInternationalin2016 their countriesoforigininfearlife.Theinvestigationentitled these countries,hasresultedinincreasingnumbersofpeopleleeing This situationofviolence,addedtotheinstitutionalweaknessin are classiiedasdeathsbyirearm. considers tobeepidemiclevels,andmorethan75percentofthese murder ratesarewellabovewhattheWorld HealthOrganization In additiontoalarminglevelsofgeneralinsecurity,theirrespective Guatemala andHonduras)areamongthemostviolentinworld. The countriesoftheNorthernTriangle ofCentralAmerica(ElSalvador, 8 7 2 9 3 6 1 5 4 9 8 7 capacity tomaintainintimate andsexualrelationswiththosepeople. Sexual orientationreferstothecapacityeachpersonhas tofeeladeepemotion,affectiveandsexualattractionpeopleofdifferentgender, topeopleofthesamegenderormorethanonegender;aswell Gender identityisthedeep,internalandindividualway in whichgenderisexperiencedbyaperson,anditmayornotcorrespondtothesexascribed thematthetimeoftheirbirth. thereto. Atranspersonmayconstructtheirgenderidentity regardlessofsurgicalinterventionsormedicaltreatment. Transgender isatermusedtodescribedifferentvariantsofgenderidentity,thecommondenominator beingalackofconformitybetweenperson’sbiologicalassigned sexandthegenderidentitytraditionally These measuresdemonstratethefeartheyliveinfortheir lives. references havealsopurposelybeenomittedfromtheir stories. some detailsoftheirpersonallifeandgeographicalortemporal pseudonyms toensuretheanonymityandsafetyofthese people, protection inothercountriessuchasMexico.Whenusing both intheircountriesoforiginandwhentheyseekinternational women sufferduetotheirsexualorientationand/orgender identity, primary humanrightsabusesandviolationsthatgaymentrans have beenchangedtoprotecttheirsafety,arerepresentativeofthe The storiesofCarlos,Camila,MarbellaandCristel,whosenames point ontheirjourneyinsearchofprotection. men andtranswomenareexposedtogender-based violenceatevery escaped, andwheretheywillagainbeattacked.Inotherwords,gay back totheircountriesoforigin;i.e.thehellfromwhichtheyhave themselves inahighlyvulnerablesituationandmayevenbedeported the transitand/ordestinationcountries.Whendetained,theyalsoind atthehandsofcriminalgangsandauthoritiesin them, however, thispathispavedwithnewactsofviolenceand other countriessuchasMexicoortheUnitedStates.Formanyof gay menandtranswomenchoosetoleeseekprotectionin for protectingtheirlivesandphysicalintegrityinowncountries, Amnesty Internationalhasdocumentedhow, giventhelackofoptions authorities forfearofreprisals. lack ofcomplaintsmadetothe those seekingasylum,andthe transitory natureofthelives such documentationgiventhe sometimes impossibletoobtain documentation; however, itwas sources, includingoficial information withotheravailable possible, cross-referencedthis in thegivencasesand,asfar in-depth interviewswithpeople Amnesty Internationalconducted and internationalorganizations. with humanrightsorganizations gay menortranswomen,and and 34yearsold,identifyingas Honduras, agedbetween16 primarily fromElSalvadorand 20 asylumseekersandrefugees between 2016and2017with series ofinterviewsconducted This documentistheresultofa

5 NO SAFE PLACE 6 NO SAFE PLACE patriarchal social norms. accepted heterosexualand was differentfromthetraditionally orientation and/orgenderidentity the simplefactthattheirsexual of theNorthernTriangle dueto age intheirrespectivecountries physical violencefromanearly discrimination, exclusionand and Camilasufferedactsof Carlos, Marbella,Cristel to furtherthreats andintimidationfollowing herrescue. of atrafickingringthatrecruited LGBTIpeople,andwassubjected Marbella, a20-year-old Guatemalantranswoman, wasthevictim occasions, untilshehadno other optionbuttoleavethecountry. her andissueddeaththreats “forbeingtrans”onnumerous aged 34,itwasthepolicefrom herneighbourhoodwhopersecuted In thecaseofCamila,anothertranswomanfromElSalvador members inherneighbourhood“fornotbeingabiological ”. as awayofavoidingthethreatsandattacksshereceived fromgang a 25-year-old Salvadorantranswoman,alsosawleavinghercountry reason, andsohewasforcedtoleehiscountry.Forher part,Cristel, neighbourhood alsoattackedandthreatenedhimforthe same “for beinggay”.Membersofthegangthatcontrolledhis humiliation, rejectionaswellbeatingsfromfamilymembers occasions duringhischildhoodandadolescence,heexperienced Carlos, ayoungHonduranof25yearsagerecallsthat, onvarious

Migrant in Tapachula © Amnesty International/Sergio Ortiz 13 12 11 10 © PabloAllisonforAmnestyInternational Neighbourhood inElSalvador interviewed in2017. Carlos (Honduran) centroamerica/ [inSpanish only]. UNHCR,PoblaciónLGBTIenMéxicoyCentroamérica(LGBTI PopulationinMexicoandCentralAmerica),2017.Available at:http://www.acnur.org/donde-trabaja/america/mexico/poblacion-lgbti-en-mexico-y- documentos/comunicados/20161208_ PDH_OACNUDH_Graves_hechos_contra_mujeres_trans.pdf [inSpanishonly] Human RightsOmbudsmanandOHCHR,“Preocupangraves hechosdeviolenciacontramujerestrans”(Concernsatseriousviolationsoftranswomen’srights),8December 2016.Available at:www.ohchr.org.gt/ Killings intheRegionSoFarthisYear, 23March2017.Available at:/www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2017/037.asp; OHCHR.Annualreporton theactivitiesofhisoficeinGuatemala2016,para.61; Report ontheSituationofHumanRightsinGuatemala, paras. 340-344,availableatwww.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/guatemala2016-en.pdf;;; PressRelease 37/17IACHRCondemnsAlarmingNumbersofLGBT Inter-American CommissiononHumanRighs(IACHR)ReporttheSituation ofHumanRightsinHonduras,December2015,paras.130-136availableat:www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/Honduras-en-2015.pdf Convention andtheProtocol,whileUnitedStateshas ratiiedtheProtocol,thusacquiringidenticalobligations. 1951 Conventionandsimplyaddsanextensionofitsapplicationtoallrefugees,notonlythoseleeingtheircountryduespeciictime-constrainedconlictsduringthe1940s50s.Mexicohasratii ed boththe The 1951RefugeeConventionisthefundamentalbindinginternationaltreatythatservesasbasisoflawonrefugees.1967Protocoltopicksupallcont ent ofthe Assessing theInternationalProtectionNeedsofAsylum-SeekersfromHonduras,27July2016,availableat:www.refworld.org/docid/579767434.html UNHCR,EligibilityGuidelinesforAssessingtheInternationalProtectionNeedsofAsylum-SeekersfromElSalvador, 15March2016,availableat:/www.refworld.org/docid/56e706e94.html, andEligibilityGuidelinesfor sexual andgender-based violenceintheircountriesoforigin. interviewed inthecontextofastudyreportedhavingsuffered asylum seekersandrefugeesfromtheNorthernTriangle their countries.AccordingtoUNHCR,88percentofLGBTI gay menandtranswomentestifyingtohavingbeenrapedin Amnesty Internationalreceivedanumberofstatementsfrom physical aggression,sexualviolenceandevenmurder. or genderidentity,suchas,forexample,intimidation,threats, violence duetotheirrealorperceivedsexualorientationand/ LGBTI peoplearefrequentlythetargetofdifferentforms and insecurityintheNorthernTriangle ofCentralAmerica. are particularlyaffectedbythewidespreadclimateofviolence and internationalorganizationshavedocumentedthatthey Honduras, differentnon-governmentalorganizations(NGOs) attacks againstLGBTIpeopleinElSalvador, Guatemalaand Although itisdificulttoobtainoficialandaccurateigureson Convention andits1967Protocol. international protectioninaccordancewiththe1951Refugee is thereforeacknowledgedthatthesepeoplemayneed asylum seekersfromElSalvadorandHonduras,it (UNHCR), LGBTIpeopleareoneofthe“riskproiles”for According totheUNHighCommissionerforRefugees 11 12 13 10 13

7 NO SAFE PLACE 8 NO SAFE PLACE interviewed in2016. Cristel (Salvadoran) 17 16 15 14 KIND. NeitherSecurityNorJustice, May2017,p.8. Kids inNeedofDefense(KIND) NeitherSecurityNorJustice,May2017.Available at:https://support kind.org/resources/neither-security-justice/ the NorthernTriangle ofCentralAmerica),14May2013,www.interpeace.org/latinoamerica/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2015/08/2013_05_14_Central_Am_Violentas_y_Violentadas_es.pdflso [inSpanishonly]Seea Interpeace, Violentas yviolentadas:RelacionesdegéneroenlasmarasSalvatruchaBarrio18deltriángulonorteCentroamérica,(Violent andViolated: GenderrelationsintheSalvatruchaandBarr io 18gangsof LGBT PeopleinElSalvador, 2017.Available at:www.humanrightsirst.org/resource/bias-motivated-violence-against-lgbt-people-el-salvador 2016, availableat:www.cattrachas.org/gestionciu.php [inSpanishonly];OHCHR.Annualreport ontheactivitiesofhisoficeinGuatemala2016,para.61;and HumanRightsFirst,Bias-MotivatedViolence against See forexample,IACHR,ReportontheSituationofHuman RightsinHonduras,December2015,andCattrachas,Lenguajenoprotegidoporlalibertaddeexpresión (Languagenotprotectedbyfreedomofexpression), Transrespect versusTransphobia, Vol. 15:TMMAnnualReport2016.Available at:transrespect.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TvT-PS-Vol15-2016.pdf [inSpanishonly]. adequately reported. are systematicallydenouncedor higher giventhatnotallcases that therealigurescouldbe women. ThesesameNGOswarn most dangerousregionsfortrans Triangle regionisoneofthe indicates thattheNorthern A studyconductedin2016 years (seetable). numbers ofmurdersinrecent the situationhavereportedhigh and systematizinginformationon people, NGOsthataregathering In termsofmurdersLGBTI 14 as wellblackmail. orientation, subjectingthemtoactsofphysicalandsexualviolence, LGBTI peopleforrealorperceivedtheirgenderidentitysexual governed byhighlysexistcodesofconduct,andtheyoftenattack excluded fromthisreality.Ithasbeendocumentedthattheyare criminal behaviourandgenerallyassociatedwithterritorialcontrol, Northern Triangle ofCentralAmerica,characterizedbytheirviolent and, later, intheworkplace.Norare“maras’ organgsinthe family, communityandsocietymoregenerally,includingatschool and exclusionindifferentarenasofdailylife;fromwithintheirown which bearwitnesstomultipleactsofverbalandphysicalviolence relected inthetestimoniesreceivedbyAmnestyInternational, patriarchal socialnormsandgenderroles.Thissituationis towards thesepeople,whodifferfromthetraditionallyestablished discrimination andstigmathatisprevalentinsocietygenerally Violence towardsLGBTIpeopleisrootedintheenvironmentof 17 15 16 19 18 Transgender Europe,Trans MurderMonitoringProject.Disponible entransrespect.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/TvT_TMM_TDoV2017_Tables_EN.pdf his oficeinGuatemala2016. IACHR PreliminaryObservationsoftheIACHR’sOn-Site Visit toGuatemala.4August2017.Available at:www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2017/114A.asp; andOHCHR.AnnualReportontheactivitiesof disappeared andkilledinJune2016. of theSampedranaGayCommunity,whowas rights, suchasRenéMartínezIzaguirre,President were anumberofactivistsanddefendersLGBTI (or 32.5percent)weretranspeople.Amongthese of which152(or58percent)weregaymenand86 reported inHondurasbetween2009andJuly2017, the media—264murdersofLGBTIpeoplewere people onthebasisofinformationappearingin Network —whichmonitorsviolentdeathsofLGBTI According totheNGOCattrachasLesbian brutally attackedjustdayslater. murdered withina72-hourperiod.Afourthwas February 2017,threetranswomenwerebrutally between JanuaryandSeptember2017.During them murders,perpetratedagainstLGBTIpeople reported atotalof28seriousattacks,most Trans Women inElSalvador(COMCAVIS TRANS) The AssociationforCommunicatingandTraining during 2016. that 40transpeopleweremurderedinGuatemala For itspart,theNGOTransgender Europeindicated were reportedmurderedwithinasix-weekperiod. For example,attheendof2016,ivetranswomen of occasionsbyinternationalhumanrightsbodies. by LGBTIpeoplehasbeenhighlightedonanumber The seriousviolenceanddiscriminationsuffered © AmnestyInternational/EncarniPindado 19 Crime sceneinHonduras 18

9 NO SAFE PLACE 10 NO SAFE PLACE her internationalprotection. Some weekslater, theMexicanstategranted the situationfromwhichshewasescaping. that shewas,however, afraidofbeingsocloseto proceedings inGuatemalahadreached.Shestated March 2016,shedidnotknowwhatstagethelegal a bordertowninsouthernMexicoattheendof When AmnestyInternationalinterviewedherin and integrity. she decidedtoleaveforMexicoprotectherlife in herowncountryandso,attheendof2016, The threatsdidnotstop,andshefeltunprotected house forfearthatthethreatswouldbecarriedout. to school,nolongerwentoutandshutherselfinthe even threatened.Terriied, Marbellastoppedgoing previous ordealwerelookingforherandshewas to receivewarningsthatthoseresponsibleforher however, that shortlyafterherreturn,shebegan and resumeherlifestudies.Sherelates, On herrelease,Marbellawantedtoreturnhome a criminalinvestigationopened. responsible weresubsequentlyarrestedand rescued byapoliceoperation.Anumberofthose trans womenfromCentralAmerica,untilshewas was subjectedtosexualexploitationalongwithother in ahouseforseveralmonthsduringwhichtimeshe a trafickingring.Marbellastatesthatshewasheld which turnedouttobearecruitmentfrontfor to participateinabeautycontestGuatemalaCity, a Guatemalantranswoman,repliedtoaninvitation In 2016,whenshewas19yearsold,Marbella, © AmnestyInternational/SergioOrtiz Portrait ofMarbella 11 NO SAFE PLACE 12 NO SAFE PLACE attacks theysuffer. gangs, manypeopleprefernot toreportthe complicity andcover-ups withorganizedcriminal who areregardedasbeinginvolved incorruption, the authoritiesresponsiblefor lawenforcement, of theirattackers,andgiven thelackoftrustin For fearofsufferingreprisalsatthehands protection fromtheviolencetheyfaced. act perceivedassynonymouswithobtaining their lifeorintegrity;rarelywassuchan an additionalanddirectrisktotheirsafety, Prosecution Servicewouldmeanorhasmeant Amnesty InternationalthattogothePoliceor gay mencommentedintheirinterviewswith Like Carlos,mostofthetranswomenand having madecomplaints. attacked andpersecutedspeciicallyfor seen howmanyofhisfriends,alsogay,were and threatshereceivedinHonduras,having Carlos decidednottoreporttheattacks interviewed in2017. Carlos (Honduran) © PabloAllisonforAmnestyInternational Salvadoran police 21 20 2015, para.38.[inSpanish only] HumanRightsOmbudsmanofElSalvadorandUNDP, InformesobrelasituacióndelosderechoshumanoslasmujerestransenElSalvador(ReportontheHuman RightsSituationofTrans Women in El Salvador), publicaciones/informe-sobre-la-situacion-de-derechos-humanos-de-mujeres-trans-.html OficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights,2015;andKIND.Neither SecurityNorJustice,May2017,p.8. derechos humanosdelasmujerestransenElSalvador (Report onthehumanrightssituationoftranswomeninElSalvador)[inSpanishonly,availableatwww.sv.undp.org/content/el_salvador/es/home/libr ary/otras- UNHCR,EligibilityGuidelinesforAssessingtheInternational ProtectionNeedsofAsylum-SeekersfromHonduras,27July2016;HumanRightsOmbudsman inElSalvadorandUNDP, Informe sobrelasituacióndelos 21 of thestigmatheybear. arbitrary detentionsfromthepolicebecause to ,unjustiiedsearchesand that transwomenareparticularlyexposed Local activistsindicatedinthisregard due tohergenderidentityandexpression. members oftheSalvadoranpolice,apparently street andsearchesofherbelongingsby subjected tounjustiiedcontrolsinthe For herpart,Cristelrelatedhowshewas prevalent insociety. the contextofdiscriminationandstigma of thesecurityforcesandfosteredby people, perpetrateddirectlybymembers a backdropofreportedattacksonLGBTI is unfortunatelynotaone-offbutpartof her housewithairearm.Camila’sstory a policeoficer, whoeventurnedupat sheexperiencedcamefrom El Salvador, theinsults,deaththreatsand More seriousstill,inCamila’scase,from 20 13 NO SAFE PLACE When Camila went to in El Salvador to report the attacks she had suffered, rather than taking her complaint seriously and offering her protection, the oficers mocked her gender identity.

Camila insisted on exercising her rights like any other person but, but the oficers threatened to lock her up so, in the end, she gave up and went away.

Migrant in the streets of Tenosique © Amnesty International/Sergio Ortiz A study conducted in 2014 in this regard revealed The few people who dare go to the authorities the extent of prejudice due to sexual orientation to report a crime are frequently re-victimized or and/or gender identity within the Salvadoran treated with disdain, indifference and discrimination National Police. It concluded that 66.8 percent due to their gender identity and/or expression, and of the 413 police oficers interviewed believed so they rarely follow their case up and even,sometimes, that, in accordance with national law, LGBTI withdraw it. The above is in violation of the right of all people did not have the same rights as others.22 people to enjoy equal protection before the law without discrimination.

Despite some progress within certain institutions responsible for law enforcement, the testimonies gathered bear witness to the fact that a lack of sensitivity continues to form a barrier to protecting the rights of LGBTI people. 22 ESMULES and CIPAC. Actitudes hacia las personas LGBTI por parte de las fuerzas policiales. (Police Attitudes Towards LGBTI People). El Salvador, September 2014. Available at: www.cipacdh.org/pdf/ Informe_El_Salvador_FINAL.pdf [in Spanish only]

© AmnestyInternational/Sergio Ortiz Portrait ofCamila up andleft. up, followingwhichshegave oficers threatenedtolockher every righttodoso,thepolice complaint, knowingthatshehad When sheinsistedonmakinga by someoftheoficerspresent. she wasmockedandinsulted As atranswoman,however, the aimofreportingmatter. Civil NationalPolice(PNC)with relatives. Shealsowenttothe her homeandwenttolivewith would cometopass,Camilaleft home. Forfearthatthesethreats irearm, andeveninherown of occasionswhilecarryinga partner withdeathonanumber even threatenedCamilaandher the monthswentby.Theoficer aggressive attitudeincreasedas transphobic behaviourbuthis violentand her neighbour’s To beginwith,Camilaignored her partnerorfamily. paths crossed,eveninfrontof insulted herwhenevertheir trans; hehoundedherand began toharassherforbeing same neighbourhoodasher police oficerwholivedinthe that, atthestartof2016,a recounts Salvadoran transwoman.She Camila isa34-year-old 23 Tapachula isatowninChiapasState,onthesouth-eastern borderwithMexico,adjoiningGuatemala. another towninMexico. She subsequentlywenttolivein attheendofApril2017. Camila wasrecognizedasa stage theinvestigationwasat. later, shewasunawareofwhat she wasinterviewedtwomonths Crimes againstImmigrants.When Special ProsecutionServicefor Camila madeacomplainttothe them andtooktheirmoney. their genderidentity,threatened individuals whoshesaysinsulted were stoppedbyuniformed minibus, sheandherpartner distance afterhavinggotoffthe control. Camilasaysthatashort due toanimpendingmigration shortly beforeenteringTapachula onward butwereforcedtogetoff caught aminibusfortheirjourney border, Camilaandherpartner After crossingtheMexican to leeMexicowithherpartner. Camila sawnootheroptionbut persecution andsurveillance, life, andfacedwiththislevelof to thepolice.Fearingforher told herheknewshehadgone from thesameindividual,who weeks, eveninhernewhome, death threatsovertheensuing continued receivingtelephone Camila recountsthatshe 23 17 NO SAFE PLACE 18 NO SAFE PLACE 26 25 24 cattrachas.org/gestionciu.php [inSpanishonly] Cattrachas LesbianNetwork, InformesobremuertesviolentasdelacomunidadLGBTI. Énfasisenimpunidad(Reportintoviolentdeaths intheLGBTICommunity.EmphasisonImpunity),2016. Available at:www. PReleases/2017/114A.asp on theSituationofHumanRightsinHonduras,December 2015,p.65,andPreliminaryObservationsoftheIACHR’sOn-SiteVisit toGuatemala. 4August2017.Available at:www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/ Human RightsFirst.Bias-MotivatedViolence againstLGBTPeople inElSalvador. 2017.Available at:www.humanrightsirst.org/resource/bias-motivated-violence-against-lgbt-people-el-salvador; IACHR.Report review ofHondurasCCPR/C/HND/CO/2,22August2017, para.18. La-Fiscal%C3%ADa-solo-ha-podido-llevar-a-tribunales-uno-de-cada-10-homicidios-cometidos-en-2015.htm [inSpanishonly];andUN.HumanRightsCommittee,Concluding Observationsonthesecondperiodic de cada10homicidioscometidosen2015(TheProsecution Servicewasonlyabletobringchargesinone10murderscommitted2015),28March2016.Available at:elfaro.net/es/201603/el_salvador/18189/ IACHR pressrelease,WrapsUpOn-SiteVisit toGuatemala,4August2017,availableat:www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2017/114.asp; El Faro,LaFiscalíasólohapodidollevaratribunalesuno without discrimination. enjoy equalprotectionbeforethelaw do haveadutytoensurethatallpeople reference toLGBTIpeople,thesecountries include thisprohibitionnormakeexplicit of theNorthernTriangle donotexpressly the politicalconstitutionsofcountries It followsfromtheabovethatalthough on CivilandPoliticalRights) (Article 26oftheInternationalCovenant property, birthorotherstatus.” or otheropinion,nationalsocialorigin, colour, sex,language,religion,political discrimination onanygroundsuchasrace, equal andeffectiveprotectionagainst discrimination andguaranteetoallpersons this respect,thelawshallprohibitany to theequalprotectionoflaw. In are entitledwithoutanydiscrimination “All personsareequalbeforethelawand of apersonisprohibited: sexual orientationand/orgenderidentity rights law, anydiscriminationbasedonthe In accordancewithinternationalhuman their livesandphysicalintegrity. alternatives theyhavetoprotect escape arethereforeoftentheonly lack ofprotection.Silenceand are subjectedandincreasestheir of violencetowhichLGBTIpeople justice onlyperpetuatesthecircle This lackofeffectiveaccessto investigation ofcasesviolence. that contributetothelackof cited bylocalactivistsasfactors these kindsofattack,havebeen justice operatorsasregards awareness andtrainingamong prejudice, aswellalackof In thesecountries,discriminatory had resultedinaconviction. period 2008to2015,only13 people recordedduringthe the 225violentdeathsofLGBTI NGO Cattrachasnotedthat,of forsuchattacks,the In astudyconductedinto attacks theyhavesuffered. when theyreporttheserious people veryrarelyobtainjustice impunity arecommon,LGBTI Triangle, wherehighlevelsof In thecountriesofNorthern 24 25 26 28 27 people registerwithUNHCR or itspartners. UNHCR informedusthat,during2016inMexico,159LGBTI peoplewereprovidedwithhumanitarianassistancebyUNHCRanditspartners.Again,however, itispossiblethattheiguresarehighergiventhatnotall andCustomsEnforcement(ICE),Transgender CareMemorandum,June2015.Available at:www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-issues-new-guidance-care-transgender-individuals-custody measures toguaranteetherightsofLGBTIpeople. the designandimplementationofadequate dissimulation ofarealphenomenonbuthinders lack ofaccuratedatanotonlycontributestothe on thegenderidentityofthosedetained.This as theICE,statedthatitwouldgatherinformation Immigration andCustomsEnforcement,known For example,itwasonlyin2015thatUS they takein. identity fortheasylumseekersandrefugees information bysexualorientationand/orgender the destinationcountriesdonotcompilestatistical reasons describedabove,andbecausemanyof national authoritiesorclassiiedassuch,forthe their countriesoforiginarerarelyreportedtothe because theattacksthatLGBTIpeoplesufferin Triangle ofCentralAmericaeachyear. Thisis and Cristel,leetheviolenceofNorthern and gaymenwho,likeCamila,Carlos,Marbella We donotknowtheexactnumberoftranswomen 27 however, theiguresarelikelytobehigher. had leftthecountrysince2012.Inpractice, Trans indicatedthatatleast136LGBTI people In March2017,theSalvadoranNGOCOMCAVIS countries withthehighestnumbersofrequests. Honduras, andElSalvadorareamongthe10 they havereceivedoverthelastyears,Guatemala, the UnitedStatesindicatedthatofallrequests provides guidancetoLGBTIasylumseekersin For example,theNGOImmigrationEqualitywhich with LGBTIpeople. and itspartnersinthecontextoftheiractivities NGOs andfrominformationgatheredbyUNHCR comes frommonitoringconductedbyanumberof Most oftheinformationavailableinthisregard © PabloAllisonforAmnestyInternational Grafiti inElSalvador 28 19 NO SAFE PLACE 20 NO SAFE PLACE 32 31 30 29 insulted herbecauseofgenderidentity. by differentpeoplewhoalsostigmatizedherand to severaldaysofrapeandsexualexploitation taxi driveronherarrivalinMexicoandsubjected recounts howshewaskidnappedbyasupposed For herpart,Cristel,aSalvadorantranswoman, who alsoinsultedherduetogenderidentity. and hadhermoneystolenbyuniformedindividuals, Tapachula insouthernMexico,shewasthreatened the minibusthathadtakenherandpartnerto For example,Camilaremembersthataftergettingoff are tryingtoescapefromathome. same abusesandviolationsoftheirrightsthatthey and/or genderidentity,andoftenmeantheyfacethe are particularlyseriousgiventheirsexualorientation what risksawaitthemonthejourney.These going, thattheyhavearighttorequestasylumor men generallyleewithoutknowingwheretheyare protect theirlifeandintegrity,transwomengay demonstrate that,facedwiththeurgentneedto The testimoniesgatheredbyAmnestyInternational centroamerica/ [onlyinSpanish]. Cited inUNHCR,PoblaciónLGBTIenMéxicoyCentroamérica (LGBTIPopulationinMexicoandCentralAmerica),2017.Available at:www.acnur.org/donde-trabaja/america/mexico/poblacion-lgbti-en-mexico-y- Refugio La72.Enloslímitesdelafrontera,quebrando límites(Onthelimitsofborder, breakingthelimits),April2017,p.21.Available atwww.la72.org/?p=1719 [onlyinSpanish] WOLA etal.,Elaccesoalajusticiaparapersonasmigrantes enMéxico:underechoquesóloexisteenpapel(AccesstojusticeformigrantsinMexico:aright thatexistsonlyonpaper),July2017..SeealsoHogar wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Accesoalajusticia_Versionweb_Julio20172.pdf [onlyinSpanish]. al., ElaccesoalajusticiaparapersonasmigrantesenMéxico: underechoquesoloexisteenpapel,(AccesstoJusticeforMigrantsinMexico:arightthatexists onlyonpaper),July2017.Available at:www.wola.org/ Hogar RefugioLa72.Enloslímitesdelafrontera,quebrando loslímites(Onthelimitsofborder, breakingthe limits),April2017,pp.19-20.Available at:www.la72.org/?p=1719, [onlyinSpanish]andWOLAet Orientations andGenderIdentities,2015.p.7.Available at:www.refworld.org/docid/566140454.html IACHR, Violence againstLGBTIPersonsintheAmericas,12November2015,para.285,availableatwww .oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/violencelgbtipersons.pdf andUNHCR,ProtectingPersonswithDiverseSexual ring. City, whereshewascapturedbyatrafickingand the abusesshehadsufferedonreachingGuatemala her countryirstlytoGuatemala,andthenrecounted who statedthereasonsthathadforcedhertolee interviewed aHondurantranswomanasylumseeker In thesouthofMexico,AmnestyInternationalalso in Mexicoaftercrossingtheborderatblindspots. reported sufferingsexualandgender-based violence Triangle andinterviewedin2016as partofastudy seekers andrefugeescomingfromtheNorthern According toUNHCR,two-thirdsofLGBTIasylum gender identityand/orsexualorientation. to actsofviolenceduetheirrealorperceived attack, LGBTIpeoplealsoindthemselvesexposed cases reported.Facednotonlywiththesekindsof services, whichgounpunishedin99percentofthe the securityforcesandotherMexicanmigration as welldifferentkindsofabuseauthorityby in collusionwithdifferentgovernmentauthorities, perpetrated byorganizedcriminalgangs,sometimes including attacks,robberiesandkidnappings violations arereportedagainstmigrantsgenerally, In Mexico,highlevelsofcrimeandhumanrights destination countries. acts ofviolenceonthejourneyand/orintheir experience intheirowncountries,theysufferfurther rights. Inadditiontotheserioussituationthey particularly vulnerabletoviolationsoftheirhuman LGBTI peoplewhoareforcedtolee 29 30 31 32 In addition, the testimonies received by Amnesty Despite this, Carlos commented that, a short while International highlight the fact that, the whole way ago, while walking along a path, he was brutally along their escape route, they are subjected to attacked by other migrants. His aggressors knew stigma and discrimination from the authorities, and he was gay and so they insulted him for his sexual also sometimes in the shelters that receive them, orientation. He states that he was also raped. due to the injurious prejudice surrounding their sexual orientation and/or gender identity that is also Finally, the information gathered by Amnesty prevalent in this country. International —in its interviews with asylum seekers in various border towns in southern Mexico, and It is important to note, in this regard, the high with workers from shelters and other organizations— numbers of Mexican LGBTI victims of violence bears witness to the presence of gang or “mara” each year and the fact that many of them, including members in these areas. For asylum seekers, the transgender people, in turn seek protection in presence of individuals linked to the same gangs other countries.33 that were persecuting them, threatening them and/ or attacking them in their home countries increases LGBTI people also suffer violence, both verbal and their perception of insecurity and can even form physical, from other migrants. This can be seen, for a real and imminent risk. Cristel recounted, for example, in insults or contemptuous words that refer example, that on returning from sorting out some to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, or paperwork with the Mexican migration ofice one in more serious aggression. day, she recognized an individual in the street When we interviewed Carlos for the irst time in the linked to the same gang that had blackmailed and shelter where he was stayingin the South of Mexico, threatened her in El Salvador. Because of this she he told us that he was afraid to go outside, and tried stopped going out of the house unless absolutely to avoid doing so. necessary, for fear of being attacked or located.

Street in Tapachula © Amnesty International/Sergio Ortiz

Cristel (Salvadoran) interviewed in 2016.

33 See for example UN, Report of the Special Rapporteur on and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on his mission to Mexico, A/HRC/28/68/Add.3, 29 December 2014; Animal Político, La Ciudad de México, la entidad número uno en agresiones a personas trans (: number one for trans aggression), 2016, available at: www.animalpolitico.com/2016/11/trans-asesinatos-violencia-mexico/ [in Spanish only]; Sin Fronteras, Diagnóstico Interseccional sobre la situación y necesidades de mujeres; niñas y niños y adolescentes; y personas LGBTTTI migrantes y sujetas de protección internacional en la Ciudad de México (No Borders, Intersectional Assessment of the situation and needs of women, children and adolescents; and LGBTI migrants and subjects of international protection in Mexico City), February 2017, available at: /sinfronteras.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Diagnostico-sin-marcas.pdf [in Spanish only]. Migration detention is another To this must be added the impact of the detention itself on asylum situation in which LGBTI asylum seekers, which only exacerbates their symptoms of depression, seekers are particularly exposed anxiety and the effects of post-traumatic stress.35 These symptoms to abuses and violations of are present in LGBTI asylum seekers due to the serious acts of their , including violence they have suffered. lack of effective access to their right to seek asylum and acts In Mexico, there are documented migrant detention centres that fail to of gender-based violence and meet the speciic protection needs of LGBTI people; trans women in discrimination on the part of other particular are mixed with others, or crowded into provisional cells that detainees and the guards. are temporarily allocated to them.36 In a report published in July 2017, the Citizens’ Council of the National Migration Institute (INM) of Mexico UNHCR has acknowledged that highlighted the fact that the different LGBTI people met and interviewed LGBTI people are often at risk in the different centres “stated that they had suffered discrimination, during the time they spend in sexual harassment and even aggression from other detainees or the migration detention centres.34 centre staff”.37 This risk is greater for transgender women when they are held in cells reserved for men because there are no adequate policies or measures that take their individual and gender identity needs into account.

Carlos (hondureño), entrevistado en 2017.

34 UNHCR. Protecting Persons with Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities, 2015. p. 28.

35 Allen S. Keller et al., “Mental health of detained asylum seekers,” The Lancet, vol. 362, November 22, 2003, Cited in , Do you See How Much I’m Suffering Here?, p. 11 and The New York Times, Transgender Women Fear Abuses in , 10 January 2017. Available at: www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/us/transgender-women-fear-abuse-in-immigration-detention.html

36 Citizens’ Council of the National Migration Institute. Report: Personas en detención migratoria en Mexico, Resumen ejecutivo (People in migration detention in Mexico, Executive Summary), July 2017, p.22; and Observatorio de Migración, Derribando Muros (Breaking down Walls), Bulletin No. 7, April 2017, p. 2., available at: nsyde.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/07-Derribando-Muros-15-04-2016.pdf [in Spanish only]

37 Citizens’ Council of the National Migration Institute. Report: Personas en detención migratoria en México, Resumen ejecutivo (People in migration detention in Mexico, Executive Summary), July 2017, p.22. See also Observatorio de Migración, Derribando Muros (Breaking down Walls), Boletín no. 7, April 2017, p. 2., available at: nsyde.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/07-Derribando-Muros-15-04-2016.pdf [in Spanish only] This report indicates that detainees are generally Carlos indicates that he only found out about his subjected to pressure and intimidation to accept right to seek asylum after being detained and taken so-called “voluntary return”, which denies them to a holding centre in the south of Mexico. Once effective access to the right to seek asylum.38 he became aware of this possibility, he said he wanted to begin the process as soon as possible, as Amnesty International inds this situation concerning in it would enable him to escape the violence he had that it may contribute to the increased vulnerability experienced in Honduras; however, in an attempt of LGBTI people detained for migration reasons, to demotivate him, the person dealing with his who are often unaware of their right to seek asylum. case warned him that it would mean remaining in By subjecting them to pressure during their detention for around three months. Two days later, detention, in a context in which their rights as LGBTI Carlos was inally able to begin the process. people are not systematically guaranteed, they are exposed to deportation to their countries without the After several weeks, however, he became severely possibility of receiving the international protection depressed and felt he would be unable to bear such they deserve,39 and despite the fact that gender dificult detention conditions. He was released after persecution is one of the causes established in around a month’s detention due to being offered Mexican legislation for recognizing refugee status.40 alternative methods to migration detention and so he was moved to a shelter.

38 Ibid. See also Animal Político, Hoy no comes, así amenazan a migrantes en México para que acepten la deportación voluntaria (No food today: how migrants in Mexico are threatened to accept voluntary deportation), 3 August 2017. Available at: www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/amenazas-migrantes-mexico/?utm_source=Hoy+en+Animal&utm_campaign=cdf495dd10-ga&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ae638a5d34- cdf495dd10-392971985 [in Spanish only]

39 Observatorio de Migración, Derribando Muros (Breaking down Walls), Boletín no. 7 April 2017, pg. 2. [in Spanish only].

40 Article 13 of the Law on , Additional Protection and Political Asylum.

Person detained in El Salvador © Pablo Allison para Amnistía Internacional 24 NO SAFE PLACE 41 Guatemala totheMexicanborder. knowing theroute,hetookseveralbusesthrough the country.On13September2016,withoutreally but toleeoncemore.Thistimehedecidedleave Without asafeplacetostay,Carloshadnooption him further. out wherehelivedandwenttheretothreaten house; heevengaveupwork.Butthegangsfound such thatheinitiallydecidedsimplynottoleavethe the jobhehadfoundinthisnewcity.Hisfearwas Carlos saystheyattackedhimashewasleaving located himthroughtheirnetworksofinformants. Nonetheless, withinafewweeks,thegangshad in theworld. Honduras andoneofthemostdangerousplaces led toSanPedroSula—thesecondlargestcityin not toreportthisattackbutlefthiscommunityand end updead.Forfearofreprisals,Carlosdecided threats: ifyoudon’tleavetownimmediately,you’ll gang memberswhoinsultedhimandrepeatedtheir 2016 itwasdifferent.Hebeatenbyagroupof gangs intheareawhichhelived.ButMarch He sometimesalsoreceiveddeaththreatsfromthe by hisfamilyforbeinggayfromanearlyage. experienced humiliation,insultsandrejection home country.Carloshadbythistimealready department ofaclothingmanufacturerinhis 2016 hewasworkinginthepatternsandprints Carlos isa25-year-old gayman.UntilMarch ciudades-mas-violentas-del-mundo-2016-metodologia [inSpanishonly] 2017. Available atseguridadjusticiaypaz.org.mx/biblioteca/prensa/send/6-prensa/239-las-50- ciudades másviolentasdelmundo(Ranking(2016)ofthe 50mostviolentcitiesintheworld),April Citizens’ CouncilforPublicSecurityandCriminalJustice, Metodologíadelranking(2016)delas50 41 leave andwasmovedtoamigrant shelter. support ofUNHCR,andsohe wasinallyableto implemented bytheMexican governmentwiththe beneit fromalternativemeasures todetention, a mat.However, hewasinformedthatcould almost thewholedaylockedupandsleepingon the conditionsinwhichhewasbeingheld,spending He statesthataftertwoweekshefeltdesperateat so twodayslater. soon aspossiblebutsayshewasonlyallowedtodo Carlos repeatedhisdesiretostarttheprocessas three monthsifherequestedasylum.Determined, be heldinthesedetentionconditionsforatleast told him,inanattempttoputhimoff,thathewould immediately butthepersondealingwithhiscase Honduras. Hewantedtobeginasylumproceedings his reasonsfornotwantingtobedeportedback the irsttimewhileindetention,whenhestated Carlos foundoutabouthisrighttoseekasylumfor truly horribleplace.” to sleeponmatstheloor. Inhiswords,“Itwasa had tobewashedandhungoutthere,they space includedtoiletsandwashingspace,clothes immediately returnedtothecelleatit.Thissame He wasonlyletouttocollecthisfood,andthen up dayandnightwithothersinaverysmallcell. was takentoaholdingcentrewherehelocked in Mexicoafewhoursaftercrossingtheborder. He Carlos recountshowhewasdetainedbytheINM interviewed in2017. Carlos (Honduran) Portrait of Carlos © Amnesty International/Sergio Ortiz due toanumberofirregularities. refused himasylum-wasdeclarednullandvoid because theirstdecisionhereceived-which considered. Theprocesshastakenseveralmonths Carlos isstillwaitingforhisasylumclaimtobe orientation. Onthisoccasion,Carloswasalsoraped. attacked bymigrantswhowereawareofhissexual one dayashewaswalkingalongapath the bordertowninwhichhewasliving.However, fear ofmeetinggangmembersandothergroupsin Carlos sayshetriedtoavoidleavingtheshelterfor Carlos (Honduran),interviewedin2017. For her part, Cristel recounts The situation described by Cristel concurs with the results of a report her painful experience in a US published in March 2016 42 by Human Rights Watch, which documents migration detention centre. Feeling the multiple abuses and violations of human rights, including sexual unsafe in Mexico after the abuse aggression and harassment, suffered by trans women when detained she had suffered, Cristel decided in male units of US detention centres. Although the US ICE had issued to travel to the , where guidelines intended to improve the detention conditions of trans she hoped to live according to her women some months previously,43 these are reportedly suffering from gender identity and without fear. implementation problems.44 She says that, on arriving at the US border, she was detained and Trans women’s vulnerability is now being intensiied by the prolonged subsequently taken to a detention periods asylum seekers are forced to spend in detention following the centre where she was held for drastic reduction in alternative methods, exacerbated by the migration around three months. policies implemented by President .45

She was detained all this time alongside men given that, in her words, the authorities did not take her gender identity into account, nor the vulnerability that this situation created for her. Cristel says she could not bear these terrible conditions and ended up accepting so-called “voluntary return” to El Salvador. Cristel (Salvadoran) interviewed in 2017.

All people, including asylum seekers and migrants, have the right to freedom, to move freely and to be protected from arbitrary detention regardless of their legal status. Amnesty International is therefore opposed to the routine use of detention as an instrument for exercising migration control, given the negative impact it has on the rights of those detained and the fact that states often use detention as a way of dissuading or punishing illegal migration instead of tackling its real causes.

According to current international standards, migration detention is an exceptional measure to be used as a last resort when it is not possible to use other less restrictive means.46 States must therefore ensure that alternative measures to detention are effectively available for all migrants, without discrimination.47 When envisaging the use of these alternative measures, states must conduct individual assessments that take into account the speciic circumstances and vulnerability of each case, such as for example, pregnant women, traficking victims, LGBTI people, the elderly or those with a serious medical or psychological condition.48 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 Amnesty International,Home SweetHome?Honduras,GuatemalaandElSalvador’s roleinadeepeningrefugeecrisis,AMR01/4865/2016, 2016. BDL/2017/11040&_sm_au_=iVVNnVWtTstF0LqM [inSpanishonly] UNHCR, SituacióndeltriánguloNortedeCentroamérica (Situation oftheNorthernTriangle ofCentralAmerica),2017Available at:www.acnur.org/ileadmin/scripts/doc.php?ile=ileadmin/Documentos/ returned toacountrywheretheymayrunrealdanger of sufferingseriousabusesorviolationstheirhumanrights. People atriskintheirowncountryhavetherighttoreceive internationalprotectioninanother. Theprincipleofnon-refoulement(noreturn)enshrinedin internationallawpreventsapersonfrombeingsentbackor Amnesty International,FacingWalls, AMR01/6426/2017, 2017. Amnesty International,HomeSweetHome?Honduras,GuatemalaandElSalvador’sroleinadeepeningrefugeecrisis,AMR01/4865/2016,2016. UN SpecialRapporteuronthehumanrightsofmigrants,Doc.E/CN.4/2003/85,para.433. UN SpecialRapporteuronthehumanrightsofmigrants,E/CN.4/2003/85,paras74-75,30December2002. recommendation 33) (A/HRC/7/4/Add.4), 29February2008,para.97;andAddendum:ReportonthevisitofWorking GrouptotheUnitedKingdomonissueofimmigrantsandasylumseekers,E/CN.4/1999/63/Add.3,para.26 legal/505b10ee9/unhcr-detention-guidelines.html. SeealsoUNSpecialRapporteur onthehumanrightsofmigrants,UNDoc.A/HRC/7/12,2007para.50;Working GrouponArbitraryDetentions,MissiontoAngola UNHCR, GuidelinesontheApplicableCriteriaandStandardsrelatingtoDetentionofAsylum-SeekersAlternativesDetention,1999,Guideline3.Available at:www.unhcr.org/uk/publications/ Amnesty International,FacingWalls, USAandMexico’sviolationoftherightsasylumseekersAMR01/6426/2017,2017.Available at:www.amnesty.org/es/documents/amr01/6426/2017/es/ com/2017/01/10/us/transgender-women-fear-abuse-in-immigration-detention.html Human RightsWatch, DoyouSeeHowMuchI’mSufferingHere?,p.11andTheNewYork Times, Transgender Women FearAbusesinImmigrationDetention,10January 2017.Available at:www.nytimes. ICE. Transgender CareMemorandum,June2015. Human RightsWatch, DoyouSeeHowMuchI’mSufferingHere?March2016.Available at:www.hrw.org/sites/default/iles/report_pdf/us0316_web.pdf perspective inthecaseofLGBTIpeople. care theyneed,andnorfromanadequategender be identiiedorprovidedwiththeprotectionand mechanisms thatwouldenablethoseatriskto Triangle eachyear, wheretherearenocomprehensive are beingdeportedtothecountriesofNorthern that, despitetheabove,thousandsofpeople Amnesty Internationalhasfurthermoredocumented serious danger. non-refoulement (non-return)andplacespeoplein asylum, whichisinviolationoftheprinciple countries oforiginwithoutbeingabletorequest are returningpeoplewholeeingviolencetotheir this regardshowsthatMexicoandtheUnitedStates The evidencegatheredbyAmnestyInternationalin risks theyweretryingtoescape. to theircountryoforigin,directlybacktheserious deportation processthatwillculminateintheirreturn detention bythemigrationauthoritiesisstartofa or whoaredeprivedofeffectiveaccesstoit, For thoseunawareoftheirrighttorequestasylum, 50 52

51 49 53 in searchofprotection. threats, untilshewasforcedtoleeElSalvadoragain she oncemorebecamethetargetofblackmailand quickly foundoutthatCristelhadreturnedandso gang membershavearoundthecountry,they of Cristel.Becausethenetworksinformants further dangerandledonceagain,aswasthecase own waysofsurviving,untiltheywerefacedwith different areaorcityofthecountry,seekingtheir Other peoplestayedseveralweeksormonthsina a bustocrosstheborder. same dayoftheirdeportation,theyhadagaintaken arriving backintheircountryoforiginthat,thevery return indicatedthattheirfearwassogreaton their countryorhadacceptedso-calledvoluntary Amnesty Internationalwhohadbeendeportedto once more.Someofthepeopleinterviewedby either elsewherewithinthecountryorgoingabroad but toleefortheirlifeyetagain,seekingsafety return totheircountry,manypeoplehavenooption Given themultipledangersfacingthemontheir 27 NO SAFE PLACE 28 NO SAFE PLACE were distracted. night theymanagedtoescapewhiletheirabductors K, anothertranswomanfromElSalvador, untilone in captivityforseveraldaysthishouse,alongwith sexually exploited.Cristelrecallsthatsheremained raped onseveraloccasionsbydifferentpeople,and her belongingsweretakenfromandshewas taxi drivertookhertoanunknownhousewhere However, insteadoftakingherthere,thesupposed rest beforecontinuingherjourneyontoMexicoCity. a taxitotakeherintoTapachula whereshecould Once acrosstheborder, Cristelrecountsthatshegot the SuchiateRiverinaraft. like somanyotherundocumentedmigrants,crossed Cristel travelledbybustotheMexicanborderand, knowing nothingaboutthejourneythatawaitedher. two changesofclothingandtook“theroadNorth”, new threat,Cristelfearedforherlifeandsograbbed there beenactualattacksonherlife.Facedwiththis also beenblackmailedbygangs,butatnotimehad country forhergenderidentityinthepast.Shehad Cristel hadsufferedstigmaanddiscriminationinher they wouldkillher. as trans,andtheygaveher24hourstogetout,or her motherinElSalvador. Shehadbeenidentiied threats fromagangintheareawhereshelivedwith one dayinAugust2014whenshereceiveddeath describes howherlifechangedinjustafewhours Cristel is25yearsold.ThisSalvadorantranswoman avoid thethreatsbeingcarried out. which herfamilytriedtoobtain aloantohelpherand able topaythesumsdemanded forafewweeks,after “rent” ortheywouldkillher. Cristelsaysshewasonly to blackmailher:shehadpayataxplusso-called previously becameawareofherpresenceandbegan networks, thegangmemberthathadthreatenedher also controlledbygangs.Throughtheirinformation no optionbuttoliveinaneighbourhoodthatwas a differentareaofthecountry.However, shehad On herreturntoElSalvador, Cristelsetuphomein Salvador. HerfriendKnowlivesintheUnitedStates. request andagreedtoher“voluntaryreturn”El in Mexico,andsosheinallywithdrewherasylum had beengreatlyaffectedbytheabusesuffered detention wasextremelydificultforCristel,who her genderidentityintoaccount.Thisprolonged She saysthatatnotimedidtheauthoritiestake US formorethanthreemonths,inthemen’sunit. centre. Cristelrecountsthatshewasdetainedinthe authorities andweretakentoamigrationdetention the twowomenhandedthemselvesovertoUS travelled totheUnitedStateswithK.Atborder, very unsafeinthecountry,however, andsoshe to remaininMexicoforoneyear. Shesaysshefelt The humanitarianvisashereceivedallowedher the crimeinMexico. the investigationthatwasopenedaftershereported she hadnotbeeninformedoftheprogressmadein of aseriouscrimeinMexico.Cristelindicatedthat humanitarian visabecauseshehadbeenthevictim recovery. Someweekslater, theINMgrantedhera migrants, whereCristelwasabletocommenceher make acomplaint.Theyweretakentoshelterfor Immigrants inTapachula, wheretheywereableto Specialist ProsecutionServiceforCrimesagainst driver offeredtohelpthemandtookthe The twowomenwalkedanduntilacar El Salvadorwithinaone-week period. to Mexico,threetranswomen weremurderedin more. Aroundthesametime that Cristeltravelled Cristel hadnooptionbuttolee toMexicoonce area controlledbyarivalgang. weeks laterashewasgoingtovisithisfamilyinan received deaththreatsandwasmurderedseveral controlled bythisgang.Shesaysherboyfriendalso to quittheneighbourhoodandnotreturnanyarea over thefollowingdays:Cristelwasgiventwoweeks chatting withthegangmember. Morethreatscame afterwards, however, she says she saw police oficers Civil NationalPolicetoreporttheincident.Shortly by thesamegangmember. Cristelwenttothe and, atthestartof2017,wasassaultedinstreet But sheagainreceiveddeaththreatsbyphone 54 54 anxiety onherpart. and thisonlyresultedinyet furtherterrorand blackmailed andthreatenedherinElSalvador, in thestreetlinkedtogangthathad on returninghome,sherecognizedsomeone strictly essential.Cristelrecountsthat,oneday, more, andrestrictinghermovementstothe constant fearofbeingattackedorabusedonce a bordertowninsouthernMexico,living Cristel requestedinternationalprotectionin Press release37/17of23March 2017. IACHR, “IACHRCondemnsAlarmingNumbersofLGBTKillings intheRegionSoFarthisYear. © AmnestyInternational/SergioOrtiz Cristel’s hand 29 NO SAFE PLACE 30 NO SAFE PLACE 3. 2. 1. orientation and/orgenderidentity. their realorperceivedsexual countries, oftenmotivatedby in theirtransitand/ordestination in theircountriesoforiginand trans womenandgaymenboth of humanrightsexperiencedby repeated abusesandviolations witness tothemultipleand Amnesty International,bear other testimoniesgatheredby Marbella andCristel,alongwith The storiesofCamila,Carlos, Provide adequatemedicaland psychologicalcareforLGBTIvictimsofviolence. orientation and/orgenderidentity. at determiningwhetherthecrimeswerecommittedon thebasisofvictim’s sexual responsible. Thedifferentpossiblelinesofinvestigation shouldincludethoseaimed against LGBTIpeoplewiththeaimofidentifying,prosecuting andpunishingthose Conduct exhaustiveinvestigationsintoallcrimesand human rightsviolationscommitted both inthedomesticsphereandwithinpublicinstitutions. respect fortherightsofLGBTIpeopleandpreventing allformsofviolenceagainstthem, Adoptandimplementpreventionawareness-raising policiesaimedatpromoting particular protection needs. particular protectionneeds. their rightsandalackofknowledge of adequateandeffectivemeasurestoguarantee levels ofsocietyinthesecountries,linkedtoalack and stigmaLGBTIpeopleexperienceatdifferent protection istheresultofdeepdiscrimination This circleofconstantviolenceandlack orientation and/orgenderidentity. and asylumseekerisexacerbatedbytheirSexual other words,theirvulnerabilityasmigrantpersons similar tothosesufferedintheirhomecountries.In experience abusesandviolationsoftheirrights protection theyrequire,LGBTIpeopleoftenagain the violence,insteadofobtainingimmediate When forcedtoleeanothercountryescape 6. 5. 4. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. those LGBTIpeopleinvolved,asaprotectionmeasure. a fast-tracksystemcanbeactivatedinthirdcountriestosupportasylumrequestsfrom Assess theriskofdeportedorreturningLGBTIpeoplesothat,infacehighrisk, rights andspeciicneedsofLGBTIpeople. reintegration andprotectionprogrammesfordeportedmigrantstakeintoaccountthe the countriestoidentifypeoplewithprotectionneedsandguaranteethatallreception, Improve coordinationbetweenconsularservicesabroadandthereceptioncentresin and analysetheviolencetowhichtheyaresubjected. and/or sexualorientationofindividualstobetakenintoconsiderationinorderquantify to LGBTIvictimsofviolencehavedatacollectionsystemsthatenablethegenderidentity Ensurethattheoficialrecordsofdifferentinstitutionsresponsibleforprovidingcare results oftheirasylumprocedure, withspecialemphasisonLGBTIcommunities. urgently movedfromborder areastootherpartsofthecountrywhiletheyawait Put specialmechanismsin placeforvulnerableasylumseekerswhomayneedto be sexual orientationand/orgenderidentity. assessment ofthespeciicprotectionneedseachperson thattakesintoaccounttheir of alternativestomigrationdetentionforLGBTIpeople, basedonanindividualized Adopt or, whereappropriate,continuetodevelopgoodpracticesrelatedtheuse basis ofthesexualorientationand/orgenderidentity of thevictims. investigation, thoseaimedatdeterminingwhetherthe crimeswerecommittedonthe violations committedagainstLGBTIpeopleconsidering, amongthepossiblelinesof Conduct exhaustiveinvestigationswithallduediligenceforcrimesandhumanrights and/or genderidentity. seekers orrefugeespersecutedonthebasisoftheirrealperceivedsexualorientation Collect, systematizeandproducedatarecordsonviolenceagainstLGBTIasylum their countryoforigin. have effectiveaccesstothisprocess,andrefrainfromdeportingpeopleatriskback Ensure thatpeoplereceiveinformationontheirrighttoclaimasylumandthey 31 NO SAFE PLACE Original Language:Spanish November 2017 Index: AMR01/7258/2017 WC1X0DW, UK Peter BenensonHouse,1EastonStreet by AmnestyInternationalLtd First publishedin2017 material isnotsubjecttotheCreativeCommonslicence. Where materialisattributedtoacopyrightownerotherthanAmnestyInternationalthis www.amnesty.org For moreinformationpleasevisitthepermissionspageonourwebsite: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode (attribution, non-commercial,noderivatives,international4.0)licence. Except whereotherwisenoted,contentinthisdocumentislicensedunderaCreativeCommons © AmnestyInternational2017 © AmnestyInternational/SergioOrtiz Cover Photo:CiudadHidalgo,southborderwithGuatemala amnesty.org

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Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans seeking asylum in Mexico based on their sexual orientation and/or gender indentity.