D. The right to life of members of sexual minorities

68. During her visit, the Special Rapporteur also had the opportunity to talk to representatives of sexual minorities and organizations working to protect and promote the human rights of these persons. Among the allegations brought to her attention were several reports of death threats and killings directed against members of sexual minorities. In 1999, a young gay man was allegedly shot dead by private security guards close to a gas station in San Pedro Sula. When members of an NGO tried to report the case to the police, they were allegedly threatened and verbally abused at the police station. The Special Rapporteur was told that no investigation had been carried out into this killing. Similarly, in May 2001 a transsexual sex-worker was reportedly murdered behind the San Pedro Sula Cathedral. While it is reported that the police removed the body from the scene, it is alleged that no investigations have been initiated into the case. Non-governmental sources alleged that some 200 gay and transsexual sex-workers were killed in Honduras in the period 1991-2001. Reportedly, few of these cases have ever been officially recorded, and fewer still investigated.

link to full text of the Report: Report-SR Extrajudicial Executions-mission Honduras-2002-eng

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