III. Manifestations of violence against women

B. Violence against women in the community

17. Violence against sex workers is escalating. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community is also facing escalating violence; the Special Rapporteur was informed that 107 members of this community were murdered between 1994 and October 2012 in the departments of Francisco Morazán, Cortés, Atlántida, Islas de la Bahía, Choluteca, Comayagua, Olancho and El Paraíso.{{14}} Lesbians and other women who live outside of heterosexual norms are often subjected to violence, rape and other forms of discrimination. In the workplace they are often bullied, harassed or overlooked for promotions, and may even be denied employment due to their style of dress.{{15}} The Special Rapporteur was informed of an increasing trend of migration, especially among transgender sex workers seeking to flee from discrimination and abuse.

IV. Implications of inequality, discrimination and violence

A. Civil and political rights

38. Interviewees largely confirmed the findings of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders that women defenders are more at risk of certain forms of violence and other violations, such as prejudice, exclusion and repudiation, than their male counterparts due to the fact that they are seen as challenging accepted sociocultural norms, traditions, perceptions and stereotypes about femininity, sexual orientation and the role and status of women in society, which often serve to normalize and perpetuate forms of violence and oppression. Furthermore, their complaints are often dismissed and they are subjected to repeated threats and intimidation by the authorities (see A/HRC/22/47/Add.1).

 

Link to full text of the report: Report-SRVAW-Honduras-2015-eng

[[14]]14. Cattrachas, “Situación de las muertes violentas de la comunidad LGTTBI en Honduras, 1994–2012”.[[14]]

[[15]]15. Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral de la Mujer (ADEIM Simbiosis) and others, Unnatural, Unsuitable, Unemployed! Lesbians and Workplace Discrimination in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras and Mexico (2005).[[15]]

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