Argentina: Information on cross-dressers, particularly their treatment by authorities and the general population, whether protection is available, and whether there are any human rights organizations to assist them
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG27614.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Information on cross-dressers, particularly their treatment by authorities and the general population, whether protection is available, and whether there are any human rights organizations to assist them, 1 September 1997, ARG27614.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac200.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please find attached a series of reports related to the situation of transvestites in Argentina dated from 1995 to 1997. The earlier reports refer to harassment of transvestites and others in Buenos Aires by the police based on the application of police edicts which allowed for arbitrary detention of individuals. The latter reports refer to a lawsuit against the Argentine police on various charges by the Argentine Association of Transvestites (Asociacion de Travestis Argentinas, ATA) (ILGA Bulletin Jan.-Mar. 1996, 22), the repeal of police edicts by the Statutory Convention of Buenos Aires (IGLHRC-ERN Nov. 1996, 2), and the passing of legislation in that city and in RosarioArgentina's second largest city forbidding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or physical appearance (ibid.; ibid. Jan. 1997, 3). Some of the reports also mention groups that have initiated or backed legal action on these issues, including ATA, Frente de Lesbianas, Gays por los Derechos Civiles, the Students Federation of Buenos Aires University (FUBA), the Asociacion de Meretrices de Argentina (AMAR), Travestis Unidas (ibid. Mar. 1996, 2-3), Madres de la Plaza de Mayo and Linea Fundadora (ibid. Nov. 1996). Please refer to the attached documents for additional information.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
ILGA Bulletin [Brussels]. January-March 1996. "Transvestites Sue the Argentinean Police Force."
Emergency Response Network of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC-ERN) [San Francisco]. January 1997. "Activists Win Another Victory for the LGBT Community in Rosario Argentina's Second Largest Town."
_____. November 1996. "Double Victory in Buenos Aires."
_____. March 1996. "Harassment of Transvestites Escalates in Argentina."
_____. August 1995. "Police Crack Down Targets Lesbians, Gay Men and Transvestites in Argentina, Campaign to Abolish Police Edicts Picks Up Steam."
Attachments
ILGA Bulletin [Brussels]. January-March 1996. "Transvestites Sue the Argentinean Police Force," p. 22.
Emergency Response Network of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC-ERN) [San Francisco]. January 1997. "Activists Win Another Victory for the LGBT Community in Rosario Argentina's Second Largest Town," p. 2.
_____. November 1996. "Double Victory in Buenos Aires," p. 3.
_____. March 1996. "Harassment of Transvestites Escalates in Argentina," pp. 2-3.
_____. August 1995. "Police Crack Down Targets Lesbians, Gay Men and Transvestites in Argentina, Campaign to Abolish Police Edicts Picks Up Steam," pp. 2-3.
