PBI-Honduras expresses concern following attack on LGBTIQ+ rights defender Paola Flores

On January 21, the Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project posted on Facebook, “Once again, a member of the LGBT Rainbow Association of Honduras has suffered a transphobic attack and for her advocacy work.”

That post adds, “From PBI-Honduras Project we continue to express our concern about the hate attacks committed against the LGTBIQ + community and, especially, against trans women.”

Dina Meza reports, “The LGTB Rainbow Association reported that on the night of this January 20, 2020, the defender of the Transsexual Women Collective of Rainbow, Paola Flores, was shot in one of her legs after suffering a stubborn persecution.”

“According to the complaint through a statement, Paola was with another organization partner when this violent event happened.”

“Arcoiris demanded that the State of Honduras enforce protection for LGBT defenders. This organization has been a victim in recent months of violent acts that constitute hate crimes against its members, but so far the State has not carried out investigations that punish those responsible.”

Meza adds, “Until July 2019, some 325 people from the LGTBI community were counted since they were killed since the 2009 coup in Honduras, according to data from the National Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras, CONADEH. ‘12 of the 18 departments of the country have been the scene of the death of members of sexual diversity. However, it is estimated that around 85% of the crimes were committed in the departments of Cortés and Francisco Morazán’, said this state entity.”

PBI-Honduras has accompanied the advocacy group Asociación LGTB Arcoiris de Honduras (LGTB Rainbow Association of Honduras) since July 2015. The organization faces violence, intimidation, harassment and physical attacks.