Bias-Motivated Violence Against LGBT People in El Salvador

In May 2016 a trans woman in Colón, El Salvador was beaten and strangled to death. Unknown assailants skinned her face and threw her body in a ditch on the side of a highway. In June Human Rights First traveled to El Salvador and spoke with trans activist Karla Avelar, the director of COMCAVIS TRANS, a local organization that works to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Salvadorans and for the empowerment of trans people. Avelar spoke about this and other barbaric killings of members of the LGBT community in the country.

Human Rights First traveled to El Salvador to learn about the situation facing LGBT people and has continued partnering with Salvadoran human rights defenders on this issue. This brief will discuss the bias-motivated violence against LGBT people in El Salvador and outline recommendations for the U.S. government to support civil society efforts to combat it.