“A Deliberate Silencing”: Global Spike in Murders of Transgender Activists

This is according to Trans Europe and Central Asia (TGEU), which has released its 2025 update of the annual global Trans Murder Monitoring project to mark the Trans Day of Remembrance on 20 November.

The study found that over the past year, trans activists accounted for 14% of reported murders and are the second most targeted group globally, after sex workers.

“In the last two years, the murders of trans activists and movement leaders have doubled,” said Deekshitha Ganesan, Policy Manager at TGEU.

“This rise is a deliberate attempt to silence those defending freedom and equality. These murders are the most extreme consequence of political discourse that dehumanises trans people. Governments must act now to protect trans human rights defenders and ensure that trans communities can live and organise safely.”

Global Murder Data Paints a Troubling Picture

The data reveals that 281 trans and gender-diverse people were reported murdered between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025. This represents a decrease from last year’s 350 cases. However, TGEU warns that this drop does not necessarily indicate improved safety.

“It likely reflects growing invisibility of these murders in media reporting—a trend that may be shaped by changes in search engine and social media algorithms or widespread media disinterest, which can make murders harder to identify and verify,” said the organisation.

Because many murders are misreported or omitted—often due to misgendering, stigma, or poor media reporting—the real number is likely far higher.

Sayonara Nogueira of Observatorio Trans & Rede Trans Brasil added: “It’s not possible to claim that the information and results presented here represent all homicides and violence against trans people, due to limitations during monitoring and the lack of government data.”

Latin America Remains the Epicentre

Sixty-eight percent of murders occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil leading the list for the 18th consecutive year, accounting for 30% of all cases. The United States reported 31 cases, down from 41 in 2024.

No cases were reported in Africa during this period. (Africa recorded nine murders in the previous year, included four in South Africa.)

Consistent with trends in previous years, 90% of reported murders were femicides (involving trans women or transfeminine people). Eighty-eight percent of victims were Black or Brown trans people, a slight decrease from last year’s all-time high of 93%. Sex workers (34%) remain the most targeted occupational group.

Escalating Anti-Trans Hostility

TGEU warned that violence against trans communities is intensifying worldwide. It asserted that state-backed anti-trans hostility is legitimising violence and eroding human rights protections, leaving trans people increasingly unprotected.

“The alarming number of murders of trans activists highlights the harsh reality of shrinking democratic spaces, where movement leaders are increasingly under attack, targeted for who they are and for their work defending equality and human rights,” the organisation stated.

Urgent Call to Protect Trans Human Rights Defenders

TGEU called for greater funding and safety measures for trans human rights defenders and organisations. It urged countries to adopt hate crime and hate speech laws that explicitly protect trans people, decriminalise sex work, and ensure labour protections for trans and gender-diverse people.

The organisation further emphasised the need to train professionals to better respond to anti-trans violence, especially in cases involving intersecting discrimination, such as Black trans women and trans sex workers.