Through the initiatives of TransR’s Work Package 3, “Awareness Raising”, the main goals are to enable a more supportive and respectful environment for trans people in general and TSW, in particular raising awareness on the challenges and needs of trans people, giving special attention to TSW and increasing knowledge on EU non-discrimination laws and recommendations among general public.

The purpose of this Analysis report is to be a tool to evaluate and design more accurate trans-inclusive campaigns amongst LGBTI+ and sex workers organizations and allies. It departs from an identification of a wide range of public campaigns targeting the rights of trans people and a deep analysis of their content which aim to provide insights and tools for stakeholders who are willing to create their own public awareness-raising campaign focusing on the rights of trans people.

We were trying to answer the question “why sometimes campaigns aiming to promote equality and awareness raising on LGBTI+ rights eventually end up to be discriminating or disempowering for trans people?” The first question led us to another one: “what makes a campaign a trans-inclusive one?”

The campaigns selected to integrate the grid of analysis were produced mainly in Europe, US and Asia and
disseminated by online (websites and social media) and offline media (radio and tv broadcasts). The campaigns in matter used image, text and video in order to promote LGBTI+ rights around the world. The collected campaigns were dissiminated between 2008 and 2018. The 10 years time span was defined taking into account the evolution on the use of internet. The campaigns analyzed were mainly campaigns that were created with the purpose of online dissemination.

Read the full Report in English here.

This training manual has been developed as part of the TransR project by a consortium of five
organisations in Europe, namely APDES (Portugal), MIT (Italy), Positive Voice – Red Umbrella Athens (Greece), Hetaira
(Spain) and LEFÖ (Austria). LEFÖ designed this training manual in the scope of workpackage 4 (WP4) –
Empowerment and Capacity Building through Skill Building Workshops and Trainings.

The structure and content were elaborated based on previous research taking place in this project:
mapping, literature review, and existing training materials. Apart, a broad needs assessment carried out
in each of the consortium’s countries helped to identify specific needs of trans sex workers in their local
contexts. An analysis of this needs increased the knowledge as well as understanding on the main issues
concerning trans sex workers realities.

This manual provides step-by-step guidance to trainers implementing trainings for professionals working
with trans sex workers. The Training Manual includes:

•  Information on each module
•  PPP for each module
•  Guidelines for trainers
• Handouts and materials (e.g.: case studies)
• Additional literature
• Evaluation procedure

For an easy and convenient handling, the training manual is devided into two parts.
The first part provides an introduction for the trainer, namely: how and why the training course was
developed; how to prepare for the training; how to implement the training and details on the evaluation.
The second part provides a description of the training modules including an overview of each module;
instructions on how to use the module and aims and learning objectives of the module.

The TransR Training manual is available in English here.

Since June 2019, TransR consortium conducted various trainings and workshops on non-discriminatory practices with approximately 125 health providers, law enforcement agents, media representatives, service providers, representatives of LGBT and other humanitarian organisations in Vienna, Porto, Madrid, Bologna and Athens. Out of these trainings, 5 fact-sheets have been developed with relevant information and DOs-Dont’s for each one of these groups aiming to facilitate dissemination among colleagues and other professionals across Italy, Austria, Spain, Greece and Portugal. The main goal of these activities are to improve trans sex workers’ access to health, justice and social support.

These fact sheets are available in 5 languages: English, German, Italian, Greek, Portuguese and Spanish.

German Version:

fact sheet health GERMAN fact sheet HRA and LGBTI GERMAN

fact sheet Law Enforcement GERMAN

fact sheet media GERMAN

fact sheet Service Providers GERMAN

Greek Version:

fact sheet health GREEK

fact sheet HRA and LGBTI GREEK

fact sheet Law Enforcement GREEK

fact sheet media GREEK

fact sheet Service Providers GREEK

Italian Version:

fact sheet health ITALIAN

fact sheet HRA and LGBTI ITALIAN

fact sheet Law Enforcement ITALIAN

fact sheet media ITALIAN

fact sheet Service Providers ITALIAN

Portuguese Version:

fact sheet health PORTUGUESE

fact sheet HRA and LGBTI PORTUGUESE

fact sheet Law Enforcement PORTUGUESE

fact sheet media PORTUGUESE

fact sheet Service Providers PORTUGUESE

Spanish Version:

fact sheet health SPANISH

fact sheet HRA and LGBTI SPANISH

fact sheet Law Enforcement SPANISH

fact sheet media SPANISH

fact sheet Service Providers SPANISH

The TransR conference aims to deliver accountability about the results of the TransR project for its stakeholders, Trans Sex Workers in the first place, as well as service providers, intervention teams, policy makers and other groups with special interest. The results will provide a common base to think about the current situation, preparing the advance of the rights of Trans Sex Workers in Europe.

The conference will take place during an important date for the transgender community. In November 20th, the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) memorializes and mourns those who have been murdered due to transphobia and transviolence, the election of this day is particularly important as the transmurder affects trans sex worker’s community more than any other community.

On Tuesday 19th November at 10am: A Sex workers (only) meeting will be held in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

The final agenda is available TransR Conference Final Agenda

Free registration until Sunday 17th at the online registration form: https://bit.ly/34zaMmu

Conference Details

When: Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th November 2019

Where: Junta de Freguesia do Bonfim, Campo 24 de Agosto 294, 4300-506 Porto, Portugal

«We all share the same feelings, the same wishes but we don’t share the same rights»:

14th September 2019-Sex Worker Pride

 TransR consortium has today, on Sex Worker Pride, released an exclusive video that calls on support for the equal rights of trans sex workers all over Europe. The video highlights all human aspects of daily life of trans sex workers which are often subverted by emphasizing on victimization, and criminalization. Trans sex workers are people who deserve equality and respect and they should be equal citizens of our countries with the same rights and obligations.

Everyone is entitled to the rights to life, security and protection from violence, and these must be respected and ensured, irrespective of sex work and gender identity.Trans sex workers face multiple forms of human rights’ violations due to their gender identity and the criminalisation of sex work (selling, purchasing or organising) all over Europe and the world. Trans sex workers often face rejection by their families and communities who disapprove of their gender identity. This can result in high rates of homelessness, social exclusion, and poverty.

Pride started with the 1969 Stonewall Inn Riots by trans sex workers of color, gender nonconforming individuals, low-income individuals, and people of color, people who were most affected by police actions against the LBTQ community and who were brave enough to stand up and fight back. For the first time this year, NSWP is launching a fourth event related to sex worker’s rights, Sex Worker Pride, to celebrate sex workers’ self-determination and enhanced visibility and show the achievements of sex worker-led organisations around the world.

The 5 European organizations– APDES (Agência Piaget para o Desenvolvimento) from Porto, MIT from Bologna, Positive Voice & Red Umbrella Athens from Athens, LEFÖ from Vienna and  Hetaira from Madrid – implement a trasnational programme named “TRANSR – Trans Sex Workers Rights Are Human Rights” aiming to contribute to the fulfillment, respect and protection of trans sex workers (TSW) fundamental rights.

For more information,  follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

European Commission Study: Transgender People in the EU

The European Commission (DG Justice and Consumers) is conducting a study to better understand the socioeconomic and sociodemographic position of transgender people in the EU. It also aims to understand how national legal gender recognition policies and procedures can influence this.

As part of the study, ICF will be gathering the views and experiences of 250+ transgender people across the EU. We invite you to take part in this study if you:

• Identify as transgender (either currently or in the past)
• Are aged 18 years or over
• Live in an EU Member State

Whilst any adult who identifies (or has identified) as transgender can participate, we are especially interested to hear from those who have gone through a legal gender recognition process (either partially or fully) or would like to access legal gender recognition in the future.

For transgender individuals, there are four main ways of taking part between July 2019 and September 2019:

1. Telephone interviews. These will be available in ten languages (English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Hungarian or Bulgarian).
2. An online consultation. You can do an online questionnaire in eight languages: English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Polish, Romanian and Czech.
   • The link to the English-language questionnaire can be accessed here and will be available from 1 July 2019.
   • The multi-language version of the questionnaire can be accessed here and will be available from mid-July.
3. Seven focus groups. The study team will conduct face-to-face focus groups in seven EU Member States. So far, focus groups are confirmed in the following Member States: Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Greece, Germany.

If you are interested in taking part in an interview or focus group and/or would like to find out more about the study, please email participate-TG@icf.com and somebody from the study team will be in contact with you. You can also access the online consultation using the links above.

More information available here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/lesbian-gay-bi-trans-and-intersex-equality/study-transgender-people-eu_en

“Know Your Rights!” is the first information kit focused exclusively on trans sex workers available in 5 languages: English, Portuguese, Italian, Greek and Spanish. 

The information kit was firstly presented during the capacity building workshops in June-July 2019 to more than 50 trans sex workers in Vienna, Porto, Bologna, Athens and Madrid.The main aim of the workshops consisted in increasing the knowledge on protective legal measures and access to rights in cases of discrimination based on the gender identity of trans sex workers.

English (from the Austrian Partner)

English (General Content)

Greek

Portuguese

Spanish (from the Austrian Partner)

Spanish (from the Spanish Partner)

Italian

You can download the PDFs from here, by clicking on the link.

transr language ENGLISH_austria

transr language ENGLISH_general

transr language GREEK

transr language PORTUGAL

transr language SPANISH_austria

transr language SPANISH_Spain

transr language_ITALIAN

#TransSexWorkersVoices  

S. living in Portugal, 25 years old said:

“I wish there wasn’t prejudice against transsexuals and that we all had a job. I’ve been subjected to transphobia, not only by people in the street, but also by my friends. I wish people were more open-minded and didn’t judge others.
It’s a normal way to make money. I only feel bad because it’s a sad life.
****
Que as pessoas não tenham tanto preconceito por nós transsexuais e que haja trabalho para todas. Já tive problemas com transfobia, por parte de amigos, pessoas na rua. Gostava que as pessoas tivessem mais mentalidade e não fossem tão preconceituosas.
Para mim é uma coisa normal para ganhar dinheiro. Eu me sinto mal porque é uma vida triste.“

Follow us on Facebook to read our news and more personal stories of trans sex workers living in Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain and Austria.

The European project TransR – Trans Sex Workers Rights are Human Rights – which main goal is to contribute to the full exercise, deference and protection of trans sex workers’ vital rights – will join this action, in memory of Vanessa Campos.

The TransR consortium includes five organisations from different European countries: APDES (Portugal); Hetaira (Spain); LEFÖ (Austria); MIT (Italia) and Positive Voice (Greece), which will implement concerted actions that focus on the individuals, but also on the circumstances and agents that prevent trans sex workers from having full access to physical and psychological healthcare services in 2018-2019.

We will join ICRSE, TGEU, STRASS, ACCEPTESS-T and all the European and global movement demanding: a) to end violence against trans people, migrants and sex workers; b) to repeal the criminalization of clients and to decriminalize sex work and c) to support migrant’s regularization and access to work and justice.

These crimes are a direct result of the repression measures carried out by several member states of the EU, such as Sweden and France. They have been (and remain) the consequences of the lack of concrete measures adopted  by said member states, thus perpetuating the non-existence and disregard for the fundamental Human Rights and dignity of all people – regardless of gender, sexual orientation or administrative legal status.

We urge the Member States of the EU and other European bodies to take action and implement concrete measures and resources aimed at reducing hate crimes against trans people in Europe.