06/02/2024 | Writer: Selma Koçak
“Prior to the earthquake, serious threats existed regarding the freedom of expression and right to organize for LGBTI+s that were further exacerbated during the disaster.”
One year has passed since the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that struck Maraş. According to official figures, 53,537 people lost their lives in the earthquakes, which affected 11 provinces. Those responsible have not been prosecuted, and officials have not even been brought to justice.
From the first day of the earthquake, shelter, health and access to food were problems faced by everyone in the earthquake zone. These problems are going on.
What happened when discrimination was added to all these problems? The research carried out by Kaos GL and the May 17 associations answers this question from the perspective of LGBTI+ people. According to the report entitled “The Impact of the 6 February Earthquakes on LGBTI+ People” with the subtitle “It is always a crisis”, which tells what LGBTI+s have experienced since the first moment of the earthquake, LGBTI+s have faced ill-treatment. As various rights violations occurred, it became increasingly difficult to organize and promote human rights.
Some of the findings of the report are as follows:
*There were no specific legal or administrative measures for ensuring LGBTI+ individuals to access health services, adequate housing, employment, education and social security before the earthquake. No regulations were implemented during the earthquake period to ensure LGBTI+s had access to these rights.
*Prior to the earthquake, serious threats existed regarding the freedom of expression and right to organize for LGBTI+s that were further exacerbated during the disaster.
*The authorities took no steps to prevent ill-treatment. LGBTI+ survivors/ LGBTI+s
affected by the earthquake were unable to utilize the existing justice mechanisms due to their lack of trust in the justice system.
*Following the earthquake, media and social services failed to provide necessary support
information for LGBTI+s. Discriminatory practices were faced by those seeking assistance. Discrimination was either directly experienced from support providers or caused by their beneficiaries.
* The majority of LGBTI+ rights holders were unable to access psychosocial support services from public or civil society actors. A small number of LGBTI+ rights holders affected by the earthquake were able to access psycho-social support services through LGBTI+ associations. Despite facing limited resources, these associations invested significant effort in fulfilling the high demand for their services. LGBTI+s affected by the earthquake avoided contact with the public in order not to face discrimination and violence based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.
* After the earthquake, LGBTI+ survivors reported that they were barred from entering the tent cities and temporary shelter facilities set up for displaced individuals. Discrimination, verbal abuse, and physical violence were rampant in these areas. Conspiracies floated around that blamed the earthquake on the LGBTI+ community, which were fueled by hateful rhetoric that used different religious and cultural references. LGBTI+ survivors avoided being in public living spaces, considering the danger of discrimination and violence. So much so that they could not even go to the fire lit for warmth in public living spaces. In some occasions, they were forced to stay alone in damaged houses, fearing discrimination and violence in shared areas. They could not Access protective and preventive measures and were forced to live in precarious environments.
* In the 6 February earthquakes, LGBTI+ people faced multiple discrimination on grounds such as age, living with HIV and being a refugee..
You can read the report in English here.
Tags: human rights, life, health, hiv
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