tgeu Monitoring transphobic incidents Impunity and state-sponsored violence secute trans people on the grounds of their gender identity or gender expression. In cases of violence, transgender persons’ access to justice mechanisms is limited As a trans-rights activist from Turkey re- for two reasons. First, transgender survi- ports, “The majority of physical attacks vors often do not trust judges or do not and killings are directed at trans* sex work- have the financial means to cover the ers, as they are pushed into insecure envi- costs of legal proceedings. And second, ronments at the margins of society, where many transgender persons do not have the police and/or judicial authorities legit- the required information about how to imize the violence they face through their respond to incidents of violence. Those actions”. Inappropriately low sentences seeking justice are often faced with a for perpetrators send a further discourag- reluctant and ill-equipped judiciary. As ing signal to the transgender community. TGEU research has shown, trans people Another factor involved in failing to prose- are particularly vulnerable where there is cute transphobic hate crimes is that trans widespread impunity, since transphobic women are often treated as men by the incidents are not properly investigated. criminal-justice system: In many countries, such as Turkey and • Greece, the majority of trans women Attacks on trans women by men are implicitly regarded as “male-on-male” have few economic opportunities other attacks rather than male-on-female than engaging in sex work. This occu- attacks. Trans women’s vulnerability pation increases their exposure to vio- as women and as trans women is over- lence, particularly from the police. Un- looked. In many cases, trans women favourable legislation surrounding sex are regarded by the police as the cause work and the above-described negative attitudes of law-enforcement bodies towards transgender sex workers have a major impact on these individuals’ safety • of the incident, rather than the victim. The legal definition of rape, which is often based on gender, genitals, etc., often excludes trans women. and security. Supposedly “neutral” legal measures such as public morality and Another common pattern is that judges public-order legislation, anti-vagrancy rule that the victims engaged in “unjust laws, anti-homosexuality laws, anti-pros- provocation”, exculpating perpetrators titution laws, nuisance laws, etc. are used and further confirming social prejudices. by law-enforcement personnel to pro- 8 9