Amicale

On 20 November 2024, some of you may have found that chairs were occupied throughout the Council of Europe by some pictures and a statement, which you can find in full below. As the Equality in Diversity Section of the Amicale, we hope to have brought some attention to this important issue.

On November 20, 2024, the world observes the International Transgender Day of Remembrance. This year, we once again mourn the loss of over 350 transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. These individuals’ lives were cut short by direct violence, exclusion, and suicide—a visible reminder of the widespread reality of transphobic hate crimes worldwide. These cases only represent a small fraction of the total, and each reflects the deeply entrenched social and systemic discrimination against people based on gender identity or expression.

At a global level, we are witnessing an increase in hate incidents related to gender identity and expression, fuelled by certain media outlets and reactionary groups openly calling for the exclusion, persecution, or even violence against transgender people. This environment of hostility leads to tragic outcomes, including lives being lost far too soon.

The impact of transphobic hate compounds other forms of marginalisation, such as sexism, racism, xenophobia, poverty, and health inequities. Those most vulnerable are often individuals with multiple intersecting identities: women, sex workers, migrants, the undocumented, people with disabilities, and people in precarious financial situations. Their lives are affected by a complex, overlapping structure of discrimination, underscoring the need for a response that is both inclusive and intersectional.

This day reminds us:

• That individuals worldwide face daily discrimination, harassment, and violence, solely because of their gender identity or expression;
• That transphobic violence is not decreasing;
• That this hatred is not simply an isolated phenomenon but is a symptom of a systemic problem, intertwined with broader societal challenges like sexism, racism, and class inequality, and that these forms of prejudice reinforce each other.

In the face of these realities, it is critical that we, as an international community, continue to uphold and promote a strong commitment to equality and the protection of human rights for all, regardless of gender identity or expression. This 20 November, we honour those we have lost and reaffirm our resolve to build a more inclusive and just world.