Venezuela: Action Alert - Protest the Murder of a Transwomen in Caracas

The rights violated in this case include: The right to life and security of person, the right to be free from discrimination, the right to equality before the law, and the right to judicial protection

The Issue

On May 7, 2009, Xiomara Duran, a 27-year old transwoman, was wounded by six gunshots fired by an unknown individual on Avenida Libertador in Caracas. Two friends took Xiomara to the Periferico de Catia hospital. On Sunday May 17, she was transferred to the Perez de Leon hospital, where she died the next day.

This is the fourth murder to affect the Caracas transgender community in the last six months. Two transpeople were shot to death on November 7, 2008 and March 23, 2009. Another transperson was stabbed to death in Caracas on May 4, 2009. All of these cases have been reported to the Prosecutor and the Ombudsperson, but there has been no response.


Take Action

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) joins Venezuela Diversa A.C. in requesting that you send letters in English with a Spanish translation to the following Venezuelan authorities, demanding a fair and exhaustive investigation into these murders and the adoption of measures to prevent similar crimes in the future.

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International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)