The Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, also known by its Spanish acronym CIDH (Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos), has published a report drawing attention to violence against the LGBTI community and calling on OAS Member States to more thoroughly and effectively investigate and punish hate crimes perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Spanish-language report (an English version has not yet been released), Violencia Contra Personas LGBTI, reveals that a majority of violent acts against LGBTI people, including murders, are under-reported and go unpunished. According to data collected by CIDH for 15 months in 2013 and 2014, gay men and trans women are the main targets of violence and homicide. Trans women in particular are at risk of violence at the hands of police.
To address the epidemic of violence, the report includes over 100 recommendations for member states. Many countries are urged to repeal laws that discriminate against LGBTI people or criminalize homosexuality. And CIDH calls on states to adopt preventative and educational measures to address and combat hate speech and violence against LGBTI people, as well as make efforts to dispel negative social and cultural stereotypes against the community.