Saturday, January 31, 2009

HONDURAS Defensora transgénero de los derechos humanos

PÚBLICO - Índice AI: AMR 37/001/2009 - 21 de enero de 2009

AU 16/09 Temor por la seguridad / amenazas de muerte

HONDURAS Defensora transgénero de los derechos humanos (Amnistía Internacional conoce el nombre)

Muertas: Cintia Nicole Moreno, defensora transgénero de los derechos humanos
Jazmín Zelaya, mujer transgénero

Al parecer, unos agentes de policía han propinado una paliza a una mujer transgénero, activista sobre el VIH/sida y trabajadora sexual, después de que ésta se negara a darles su dinero. A continuación la amenazaron de muerte si denunciaba el incidente. La vida de esta mujer corre peligro. Otras tres mujeres transgénero -la última de ellas Cintia Nicole Moreno, el 9 de enero- han muerto de forma violenta en una zona cercana en los tres últimos meses.

Cuatro agentes de policía en un auto patrulla se acercaron a la mujer transgénero -que ha pedido a Amnistía Internacional que no haga público su nombre- hacia la una menos cuarto de la madrugada del 20 de diciembre de 2008 en el distrito de Palmira, en la capital, Tegucigalpa. En ese momento, ella se desempeñaba como trabajadora sexual. Los policías trataron de robarle y, al oponer ella resistencia, la agarraron del pelo y le golpearon repetidamente la cabeza contra una ventana cercana, hasta el punto de romper el cristal. La mujer sufrió numerosos cortes en la cara y las rodillas.

Los agentes entonces le dijeron que iban a detenerla por romper una ventana para entrar por la fuerza en una propiedad privada. La llevaron a la comisaría local, y luego a un centro de salud de la zona para que la trataran de sus heridas. Como sangraba, ella informó a los agentes de que era seropositiva, y éstos le respondieron: "perra sidosa, gente como ustedes tiene que estar en un lugar aparte". Durante el camino, también le dijeron: "si hablas, te dejaremos muerta en el monte". Luego la llevaron de vuelta a la comisaría, y la dejaron en libertad sin cargos hacia las once y media de la mañana. La mujer transgénero ha presentado recientemente una denuncia formal por este incidente ante la sección de derechos humanos del Ministerio Público.


INFORMACIÓN COMPLEMENTARIA

Las mujeres transgénero que se desempeñan como trabajadoras sexuales sufren agresiones frecuentes de clientes o policías. Tres de ellas han muerto a manos de individuos no identificados en los últimos tres meses mientras trabajaban en la zona de Comayagüela, cerca de Palmira. Jazmín Zelaya murió el 30 de octubre de 2008, y su cadáver se encontró junto a una carretera. Otra mujer transgénero murió el 17 de diciembre de 2008. Cintia Nicole Moreno, también activista que trabajaba para promover los derechos humanos de las personas transgénero, murió el 9 de enero de 2009 hacia la una de la madrugada. No se ha llevado a nadie ante la justicia por estos homicidios.


ACCIONES RECOMENDADAS: Envíen llamamientos para que lleguen lo más rápidamente posible, en español o en su propio idioma:

- expresando preocupación por la seguridad de la defensora transgénero de los derechos humanos golpeada y amenazada de muerte, al parecer por cuatro policías, en el distrito de Palmira, Tegucigalpa, el 20 de diciembre;
- instando a las autoridades a garantizar que se toman medidas inmediatas, efectivas y adecuadas para garantizar la seguridad de esta defensora, de estricta conformidad con los deseos de la propia afectada;
- pidiendo al fiscal general del Estado que ordene investigaciones inmediatas, exhaustivas e imparciales sobre este y otros incidentes de acoso, agresiones violentas y homicidios de personas transgénero, que haga públicos los resultados de esas investigaciones y que lleve a los responsables de estos hechos ante la justicia;
- pidiendo al presidente y al ministro de Seguridad Pública que dejen claro que la violencia contra las personas transgénero no se tolerará, y que los responsables de estos delitos comparecerán ante la justicia.

LLAMAMIENTOS A:

Sr. José Manuel Zelaya Rosales
Presidente de la República
Casa Presidencial, Boulevard Juan Pablo II
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS
Fax: +504 239 3298
Tratamiento: Estimado Sr. Presidente

Coronel Jorge Alberto Rodas Gamero
Ministro
Ministerio de Seguridad Pública
Cuartel Casa Mata
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS
Fax: +504 237 9070
Tratamiento: Estimado Sr. Ministro

Licdo. Leónidas Rosa Bautista
Fiscal General del Estado
Ministerio Público, Lomas del Guijarro
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS
Fax: +504 221 5667
Tratamiento: Estimado Sr. Fiscal General

COPIA A:


Organización LGBT local
Red Lésbica Cattrachas
Colonia Miramontes, 5ª calle, casa No. 2502
Calle Andalucía contiguo a Mercadito Miramontes
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS


y a la representación diplomática de Honduras acreditada en su país.

(EMBAJADA DE LA REPUBLICA DE HONDURAS)
Excm. Sr. D. José Eduardo MARTELL MEJÍA
C/ Rafael Calvo, 15, 6º B 28010 Madrid
Tlf.: 91 702 51 63 / 91 702 51 59 Fax: 91 702 51 58
E-Mail: consulip@hotmail.com
info@embahonduras.es
www.embahonduras.es


ENVÍEN SUS LLAMAMIENTOS INMEDIATAMENTE. Consulten con el Secretariado Internacional o con la oficina de su Sección si van a enviarlos después del 4 de marzo de 2009.

Si recibe contestación de una autoridad, envíenos el original o una copia, por favor, lo antes posible (ref.: "Equipo AAUU - Respuesta"). Sólo es necesario que indique en el reverso de la misma el número que tiene la Acción Urgente a la que le han contestado (por ejemplo "AU 25/99" o bien "EXTRA 84/99"). No es necesario que nos envíe copia de su propia carta. Si no desea que le enviemos un acuse de recibo, indíquenoslo también en el dorso con las palabras "No acuse". Gracias por su colaboración.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

AI Index: AMR 37/001/2009 UA 16/09

PUBLIC
21 January 2009

AI Index: AMR 37/001/2009 UA 16/09

Fear for safety/Death threats

HONDURAS

Transgender human rights defender (name known to Amnesty International) (f)

Killed: Cintia Nicole Moreno (f), transgender human rights defender Jazmín Zelaya (f), transgender woman Police officers are alleged to have beaten up a transgender woman, who is an HIV/AIDS campaigner and sex worker, after she refused to give them her money. They subsequently threatened her with death if she reported the incident. Her life is at risk. Three other transgender women, most recently Cintia Nicole Moreno on 8 January, have been killed in a nearby area in the last three months.

Four police officers in a police car approached the transgender woman, who has asked Amnesty International to withhold her name, at about 12.40am on 20 December 2008 in the Palmira district of the capital, Tegucigalpa. She was working as a sex worker at the time. The police officers tried to rob her but, when she resisted, they grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly smashed her head against a nearby window, breaking the glass. She received numerous cuts to her face and knees.

The officers then said that they were arresting the woman for breaking a window in order to gain forcible entry to private property. The officers took her to the local police station, and then to a local health centre to be treated for her wounds. Since she was bleeding, she informed the officers that she was HIV positive and the officers replied by saying "AIDS bitch, people like you should be in a separate place" (perra sidosa, gente como Ustedes tiene que estar en un lugar aparte) While on their way, the officers also told her "if you speak out, we will leave you dead in the countryside" (si hablas, te dejaremos muerta en el monte). She was taken back to the police
station and was released without charge at around 11.30am. She has recently filed a formal complaint with the Human Rights section of the Public Prosecutor's Office about this incident.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Transgender women who work as sex workers are frequently attacked by clients or police officers. Three transgender women were killed in the last three months while working in the area of Comayagüela, near Palmira, by unknown individuals. Jazmín Zelaya was killed on 30 October 2008 and her body was found along a road. Another transgender woman was killed on 17 December 2008. Cintia Nicole Moreno, who was also an activist working for the promotion of the human rights of transgender people, was killed on 9 January 2009 at around 1am. No-one has yet been brought to justice for these killings.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of the transgender human rights defender beaten up and threatened with death, allegedly by four police officers, in the Palmira district of Tegucigalpa on 20 December;
- urging the authorities to ensure that immediate, effective and appropriate measures are taken to guarantee her safety in strict accordance with her wishes;
- calling on the Attorney General to order swift, full and impartial investigations into this and other incidents of harassment, violent attacks and killings of transgender people, to make the results of such investigations public and to bring those responsible to justice;
- calling on the President and the Minister of Security to make it clear that violence against transgender people will not be tolerated and that those responsible for these crimes will be brought to justice.

APPEALS TO:
President of the Republic
Sr. José Manuel Zelaya Rosales
Presidente de la República
Casa Presidencial, Boulevard Juan Pablo II,
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS
Fax: +504 239 3298
Salutation: Dear President/Estimado Sr. Presidente

Minister of Security
Coronel Jorge Alberto Rodas Gamero
Ministro
Ministerio de Seguridad Pública
Cuartel Casa Mata
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS
Fax: +504 237 9070
Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimado Sr. Ministro

Attorney General
Licdo. Leonidas Rosa Bautista
Fiscal General del Estado
Ministerio Público, Lomas del Guijarro
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS
Fax: +504 221 5667
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Sr. Fiscal General

COPIES TO:
Local LGBT organization
Red Lésbica Cattrachas
Colonia Miramontes, 5ª calle, casa No. 2502
Calle Andalucía contiguo a Mercadito Miramontes
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS

and to diplomatic representatives of Honduras accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 4 March 2009.

AI Index: EUR 46/003/2009

PUBLIC

AI Index: EUR 46/003/2009

UPDATE FOR YOUR INFORMATION

14 January 2009

Further Information on UA 13/08 (EUR 46/002/2008, 18 January 2008) and follow-up (EUR 46/009/2008, 15 February 2008) – Health concern /Unfair trial

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Vasilii Georgievich Aleksanian (m), aged 37

On 31 December 2008, Vasilii Aleksanian was released on bail of 50 million roubles (more than US$1.5 million). The money had been collected during a campaign in his support. Moscow City Court ordered his release on bail after his lawyers appealed against an earlier Moscow District Court ruling, which would have prolonged his detention until 22 January.

Vasilii Aleksanian, a former vice-president of the Russian oil company YUKOS, was detained on 6 April 2006 and accused of embezzlement and tax fraud. He had worked for YUKOS several years before becoming vice-president in March 2006 at a time when the company was about to
dissolve. In October 2006 he was diagnosed with HIV infection, and subsequently developed AIDS and several other diseases, including lymphatic cancer, tuberculosis and a cataract; he has also developed a tumour in his kidney. Under Russian law, a person diagnosed with such serious health problems should not be kept in pre-trial detention.
However, he continued to be detained and authorities did not provide the medical treatment he needed. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled three times in November and December 2007 that he should be transferred to a specialist hospital. The Russian authorities, however, initially ignored the rulings and only transferred him secretly to a hospital on 8 February 2008. Initially he was kept there chained to his bed and his lawyers and relatives were not allowed to visit him.

On 22 December, the ECtHR found that Russia had violated several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights "on account of the lack of proper medical assistance [for Vasilii Aleksanian] in the remand prison" and "… the failure of the domestic courts to adduce relevant and sufficient reasons to justify his continuous detention."

Vasilii Aleksanian is still receiving treatment at the specialist Moscow hospital he was transferred to in February 2008. Since his release on bail, he is no longer being guarded by law enforcement
officers.

In mid-november, he had surgery to remove his spleen. Soon afterwards his condition deteriorated, but improved again in late December.
Vasilii Aleksanian spent 31 December with his family, including his six-year-old son, whom he last saw three years ago.

Many thanks to all who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA Network.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Boletín Diversidad

El número 22 del Boletín Diversidad que prepara el Equipo de Acciones Urgentes de Amnistía España, con los siguientes contenidos:

- Liberados defensores de derechos humanos LGBT en Uganda
- Camerún: homofobia de estado
- Sarajevo: ataques a participantes en festival gay
- Bulgaria: primera marcha del Orgullo
- EEUU: abusos policiales
- Noticias de otras fuentes

Para descargarlo visitar el siguiente enlace:
http://www.es.amnesty.org/temas/minorias-sexuales/boletines/

En estos momentos no existe ninguna acción urgente en vigor, pero se invita a apoyar la acción de movilización que está disponible en este sitio web:

http://www.es.amnesty.org/temas/minorias-sexuales/acciones/