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Monday, January 10, 2011

Three Murders in Two Weeks: Protest the Killings of LGBTI People in Honduras

IGLHRC

Three Murders in Two Weeks:

Protest the Killings of LGBTI People in Honduras Header Over the past two weeks, three travestis have been murdered in separate incidents in Honduras. In two of the incidents, the victims were set on fire either before or after their deaths. This means that in the past year and a half, there has been a total of now 31 the murders of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Honduras.
Join the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and the Honduran LGBTI organization Red Cattrachas in calling for immediate investigations and demanding state action to prevent future killings on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.


Send a message to Honduran authorities »


Background

Header On December 22, 2010 in Comayagüela, a 23-year-old travesti named Lorenza (legal name: Luis) Alexis Alvarado Hernández was found dead, her body visibly beaten and burned. Bloody stones near her corpse indicate that the bruises covering her body were caused by stoning. Her body was set on fire. Used condoms found nearby have led to the suspicion that she may also have been raped. After her death, the assailants threw her body into a ditch. News reports indicate that severe injuries to her face rendered her corpse virtually unrecognizable.
The same day, another travesti, Lady Oscar (legal name: Oscar) Martinez Salgado, age 45, was found burned to death in her home in Barrio El Rincón of Tegucigalpa. Her body showed multiple stab wounds. Neighbors report witnessing two suspicious individuals running from her house as the fire ignited.
Less than two weeks later, on January 2, 2011, a young travesti known only as Cheo was found murdered on the main street of Colonia Alameda in Tegucigalpa. Her body was left without legal documentation. She appears to have died from a severe stab wound to her chest.
These killings are not isolated incidents. Since the 2009 coup d'état in Honduras, there have been 31 murders of LGBTI people documented by Red Cattrachas. More deaths of LGBT people have likely gone unreported. At least one of those killed, Walter Trochez, was a prominent human rights defender. In the majority of the cases, there have been no investigation or prosecution of the crimes. Since the coup, all Hondurans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, have been subjected to increased violence and have received little protection from authorities; however, LGBT people been particularly vulnerable to attack. Impunity nationwide has created this deadly spike in violence.
In response to pressure from local human rights activists, the Honduran Minister of Human Rights and the Tegucigalpa Chief of Homicide have assigned two investigators to these murders. However, no one has yet been charged in the recent deaths, and there is little evidence that the investigations are underway.
Urge the Honduran authorities to conduct immediate investigations into each of the recent murders of travestis, to hold perpetrators accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and to prevent similar attacks in the future. Let officials know that the world mourns these tragic deaths and demands that LGBTI killings stop.

 petition text -


To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my deep concern at the systematic and violent murders perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Honduras. Over the past two weeks, three travestis in Honduras have been murdered in separate incidents. Two of the victims were set on fire either before or after their deaths. This means that over the past 18 months, there have been more than 31 murders of LGBTI people in Honduras. (To download a list of these 31 people murdered, see http://bit.ly/f9WFFx)

I urge you to immediately investigate these recent murders and take action to prevent future killings on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

On December 22, 2010 in Comayagüela, a 23-year-old travesti named Lorenza (legal name: Luis) Alexis Alvarado Hernández was found dead, her body visibly beaten and burned. Bloody stones near her corpse indicate that the bruises covering her body were caused by stoning. Her body was set on fire. Used condoms found nearby have led to the suspicion that she may also have been raped. After her death, the assailants threw her body into a ditch. News reports indicate that severe injuries to her face made her corpse virtually unrecognizable.

The same day, another travesti, Lady Oscar (legal name: Oscar) Martinez Salgado, age 45, was found burned to death in her home in Barrio El Rincón of Tegucigalpa. Her body showed multiple stab wounds. Neighbors report witnessing two suspicious individuals running from her house as the fire ignited.

Less than two weeks later, on January 2, 2011, a young travesti known only as Cheo was found murdered on the main street of Colonia Alameda in Tegucigalpa. Her body was left without legal documentation. She appears to have died from a severe stab wound to her chest.

These killings are not isolated incidents. Since 2009, thirty-one murders of LGBTI people have been documented by the organization Red Cattrachas. More deaths of LGBT people have likely gone unreported. In the majority of the cases, there has been no investigation or prosecution of the crimes.

To recognize the constitutional and human rights of all people, including LGBTI people, to life, physical integrity, equality, non-discrimination, and freedom from torture (Articles 60, 65, and 68 of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras; Articles 6, 7, 9, 16, 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights):

* The police, the Public Ministry and the National Directorate for Criminal Investigations should carry out prompt, full and fair investigations into the most recent murders of travestis -- and also any other unsolved LGBTI murders of the past 18 months -- and prosecute any perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law;
 * The Attorney General for Human Rights, together with other relevant Honduran authorities, should publicly condemn all hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression and launch public campaigns for tolerance;
* The State should collect, analyze, and report on data related to hate crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; and
* Police should undergo sensitivity training to strengthen the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and documentation of crimes related to sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

As a symbol of the commitment of the government of Honduras to justice and equality for all, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, I respectfully request that you give these tragic murders the urgent attention they deserve.

Sincerely,

===========================================================================

A quien corresponda,

Le escribo para expresar mi profunda preocupación por los sistemáticos y violentos asesinatos perpetuados contra personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, trans e intersex en Honduras. Durante las pasadas dos semanas, tres travestis en Honduras fueron asesinadas en incidentes distintos. Dos de las víctimas fueron incendiadas tanto antes como después de muertas. Durante los últimos 18 meses  hubo mas de 31 asesinatos de personas lesbianas, gays, transgénero e intersex (LGTBI) en Honduras. (Personas LGTBI asesinadas en los últimos dos años: http://bit.ly/f9WFFx)

Le solicito con urgencia realizar inmediatas investigaciones y acciones para prevenir futuros asesinatos basados en orientación sexual e identidad de género.

Al 22 de diciembre de 2010 en Comayagüela, una travesti de 23 años llamada Lorenza (nombre legal: Luis Alexis) Alvarado Hernández fue encontrada muerta, con su cuerpo visiblemente golpeado e incinerado. Piedras ensangrentadas cerca de sus restos indican que los golpes en su cuerpo fueron causados por estas. Su cuerpo fue incendiado. Preservativos usados encontrados a su lado llevan a sospechar que también pudo haber sido violada. Luego de su muerte los asesinos arrojaron su cuerpo en una zanja. Reportes periodísticos indican que los graves golpes en su rostro hicieron que sus restos fueran prácticamente irreconocibles. 

Ese mismo día, otra travesti, Lady Oscar (nombre legal: Oscar) Martínez Salgado, 45 años, fue encontrada incinerada en su casa del Barrio El Rincón en Tegucigalpa. Su cuerpo mostraba numerosas puñaladas. Vecinos reportaron que observaron a dos individuaos sospechosos salir corriendo de su casa cuando el fuego se iniciaba. 

Menos de dos semanas mas tarde, el 2 de enero de 2011, una joven travesti conocida como Cheo fue encontrada asesinada en la calle principal de Colonia Alameda en Tegucigalpa. Su cuerpo fue encontrado sin documentación y aparentemente murió por severas heridas de puñal en su pecho.

Estos no son hechos aislados en Honduras, desde el golpe de estado de 2009, la Red Cattrachas ha documentado 31 asesinatos de personas LGTBI. Posiblemente  más muertes de personas LGTB no fueron reportadas. En la mayoría de los casos, no hubo juicio o condena por los crímenes.

Para reconocer los Derechos Humanos y Constitucionales de todas las personas, incluyendo a las LGTBI, a la vida, a la integridad física, a la no discriminación, y a no ser torturada (Artículos 60, 65 y 68 de la Constitución de las República de Honduras; Artículos 6, 7, 9, 16, 26 del Pacto Internacional de los Derechos Civiles y Políticos):

* Que la Policía, el Ministerio Público y la Dirección Nacional de Investigación Criminal (DNIC) lleven adelante una completa y justa investigación por los crímenes a travestis ocurridos recientemente –y todos los demás crímenes LGTBI no los últimos 18 meses y no resueltos- llevando a juicio a sus perpetradores con toda la fuerza de la ley.
* La Secretaria de Justicia y Derechos Humanos, junto a otras autoridades hondureñas de relevancia condenen públicamente todos los crímenes de odio relacionados con la orientación sexual y/o identidad o expresión de género y lleven a cabo campañas públicas contra la discriminación.
* Que el Estado colecte, analice y efectúe un reporte sobre los detalles y penas por crímenes de odio cometidos en base a la orientación sexual o identidad o expresión de género; y
* Que la policía lleve adelante una capacitación de sensibilización que refuerce la prevención, monitoreo, investigación y registro de los crímenes relacionados con la orientación sexual y la identidad o expresión de género.
Como símbolo del compromiso del gobierno de Honduras con la justicia y equidad para todas y todos, sin distinción de su orientación sexual o identidad de género, le solicito dar a estos trágicos asesinatos la urgente atención que se merecen.

Cordialmente,


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