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Haiti: In mourning and under fire, civil society marks International Trans Visibility Day
Gang massacre claims the lives of 70 Haitian people.
Non-binary and transgender young people, expelled from the Dominican Republic in 2025 and welcomed at the premises of the Heritage for the Protection of Human Rights (HPDH) association in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. (Photo by @merlinjean)
To mark International Trans Visibility Day on March 31, the association Héritage Pour la Protection des Droits Humains (HPDH) in northern Haiti declared that the lives of trans Haitians matter, despite the country’s domination by gangs and dire lack of political stability.
Even as they mourned the 70 people killed in a gang massacre on March 30 in Artibonite in central Haiti, civil society organisations continue to mobilise to demand greater legal recognition for transgender people.
They advocate not only for the right to change gender markers on identification documents, but also for greater economic opportunities for trans people.
Below is a translation of the press release from the non-governmental organisation, Héritage pour la Protection des Droits Humains (HPDH);
PRESS RELEASE
Ouanaminthe, 31 March 2026
International Day of Visibility for Trans People
Visibility – Dignity – Equality – Action
To mark International Trans Visibility Day, the organisation Héritage (HPDH) pays tribute to the courage, resilience and contributions of trans people to society. Their full recognition is a key driver for strengthening democracy and upholding human rights.
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In Haiti, trans people face multiple forms of discrimination, particularly in access to employment, education, healthcare and justice. A major obstacle remains: the lack of legal recognition of gender identity on the national identity card, which exposes them to institutional violence and systemic exclusion.
Through its actions, the Héritage association pursues ongoing community work aimed at promoting the recognition of transgender people as rights-holders, through a gender-based and human rights-based approach.
The HPDH calls on the Haitian State to:
Adopt inclusive public policies;
Reform the civil registry system to guarantee administrative recognition of gender based on self-determination;
Combat impunity and ensure effective access to justice for all.
Visibility is an act of resistance. Dignity is a right. Equality is a requirement.
Ouanaminthe, North-East HaitiMobile: (509) 4152-2552Office: (509) 2810-3971Email: heritagehaiti2016@gmail.com
