“They swore at me and insulted me from afar. I tried to walk past the group with my eyes down. But one of the group came straight up to me and pushed me away from him and I fell. As I lay on the ground, the first kick came in my stomach area.

She was attacked because she is a trans woman. Like them, many trans people in Switzerland are affected by transphobic hate crimes – especially in public spaces.

According to the EU’s extensive LGBT survey, violence and discrimination against trans people are commonplace. They are confronted with hate-motivated violence and harassment; more than two out of five respondents have been affected by violence three or more times within a year. A third of all trans people surveyed avoid expressing their gender identity through their appearance and clothing, as they are too afraid of violence and harassment. To make matters worse, trans people also experience structural discrimination at work and in the education and healthcare systems. They are around five times more likely to be unemployed in Switzerland than cis people. These are extremely worrying and unspeakable conditions in which trans people have to go about their daily lives.

Although the Swiss electorate approved the extension of the anti-racism penal code in 2020, the inclusion of intersex and trans people was rejected by parliament. At present, those affected can only take civil action against trans-hostile statements and actions. There is a great need for action at a political level. It is imperative that Switzerland adds the criterion of gender identity to the anti-racism penal code – and prioritizes the health and safety of trans people!

“I didn’t dare go to the police at first, I was afraid that they wouldn’t see me as a woman, that they would blame me, that it was somehow my own fault”.

It is such fears that make it difficult for trans people affected by violence to access help. The LGBT+ Helpline registered a total of 61 assaults in 2020, 14% of which were committed by trans people. It must be assumed that the number of unreported cases is high and that many victims do not receive any support or help, although they actually have a legal right to it under the Victim Assistance Act.

Opferhilfe beider Basel supports trans people affected by violence and provides unbureaucratic support free of charge and in compliance with the legal duty of confidentiality. It can also arrange legal and psychological help and has access to a large network of LGBTQI*-friendly specialists. We always focus on the needs of the person concerned.