Increasing access to services, Mexico
In 2005, Fortaleciendo Identidades y Diversidades (Strengthening Identities and Diversities), a community group representing transgender people, began responding to the recurrent human rights violations they faced. Their strategy was to decrease the physical violence and extortion they faced from members of the police.
They started by developing education strategies for the transgender population to learn about human rights, and also for the police to learn about and respect human rights. This work was then extended to medical service providers.
Fortaleciendo Identidades y Diversidades talked with directors of public institutions to expose the problems and injustices affecting the transgender population, such as the denial of services on the sole basis of being transgender. Discussions with the National Institute for Adult Education, the State Department of Culture and the State AIDS Programme have led to significant results:
Increasing access to health services
The State AIDS Programme provides space for meetings and training, donates condoms and lubricants, distributes brochures about HIV and AIDS, and provides information and advice about HIV testing. Fortaleciendo Identidades y Diversidades and the State AIDS Programme organised a vaccination campaign for Hepatitis B, flu and tetanus, which benefited 15 female sex workers and 120 transgender sex workers.
Access to primary education
An alliance with the National Institute for Adult Education is supporting primary education for transgender people. Currently, two female sex workers and eight transgender women are studying to complete primary education.
Offering continuing education
The State Department for Culture, in coordination with the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, opened its doors to the transgender population, offering a package of classes that include contemporary dance, photography and literature. All materials for the courses are provided free of charge. Participants greatly value the University and the Department for Culture issuing identity cards with their female name and feminine appearance.
An evaluation carried out by the State Commission on Human Rights demonstrated positive changes among police force members who had been trained by Fortaleciendo Identidades y Diversidades. This information has been corroborated by testimonies from transgender sex workers who report a decrease in police aggression in the areas where they work. They also report that they are better able to defend themselves if aggression occurs.
There are significant advances – transgender sex workers now have access to better health and educational services, feel less judged and are treated with respect in spaces where they were previously denied access. Seemingly simple matters such as being called by their female name, having a certification from a public institution or being invited as presenters at academic events have helped transgender sex workers better accept their image and their identity, and improved their self-worth.
