HRW asks SA govt what it’s doing to stop LGBTIQ murders

mambaonline.com:

Candlelight vigil to remember LGBTIQ murder victims at Constitution Hill in May 2021 (Photo: MambaOnline.com) The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has written to the South African government expressing its concern over the horrific spate of LGBTIQ murders that rocked the country last year. HRW is an international non-governmental organisation that investigates and reports on human rights abuses in more than 100 countries around the world.

In a letter dated 18 January 2022, addressed to the Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development, John Jeffery, Graeme Reid, Director of the HRW LGBT Rights Program, noted that “at least 20 LBGTI individuals were killed across South Africa between February and October 2021.” Reid added that, as documented by MambaOnline, “many of the victims were beaten or stabbed to death, and… it appears that they were targeted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.” He further pointed out that a 15 November 2021 report by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) also expressed grave concern about the “particularly high levels of gender-based violence of women and girls facing intersecting forms of discrimination [including] LBTI women.” In light of these concerns, Reid said that “we respectfully request information regarding the steps that have been taken to investigate and prosecute the killings of LGBTI individuals in 2021.” Reid further asked Jeffery to share implementation plans regarding recommendations issued by the CEDAW Committee.

These recommendations included: Raise awareness of women’s human rights among traditional and community leaders and the general public, with the active participation of LBT women; Ensure