Miluska, advocating for legal protections for the LGBTIQA+ community in Peru

The reality for the LGBTIQA+ community in Peru

In Peru, there are no legal barriers to same-sex relationships or censorship of LGBTIQA+ rights. However, it remains an unsafe environment for the LGBTIQA+ community, with obstacles to same-sex marriage, adoption, and the recognition of gender identity. In addition to not being guaranteed equal access to education, housing, healthcare, and employment, LGBTIQA+ continue to face violence, discrimination, and hate due to prevailing stereotypes and stigmas in the country.

“The rise of anti-gender groups in Peru is dangerous and threatens the lives and integrity of those of us who stand up for human rights.”

Miluska’s advocacy for the transgender community has led to her becoming a victim of physical violence, death threats, online and offline harassment, and defamation by anti-LGBTIQA+ movements and armed groups.

In early January 2023, a series of murders and threats were made against transwomen involved in sex work. The situation escalated with the murders of many of these women in Lima and the jungle of Peru. A notorious case was that of a transwoman named Ruby who was shot 31 times in the centre of Lima by criminal gangs who were extorting money from sex workers. “As a result, we, the visible defenders, were submerged in threats and assassination attempts.”

Lack of protection and support

To Miluska, human rights defenders work to ensure the freedoms of others and stand up for their rights, often putting their wellbeing above their own. However, this is often at their own expense, leading them to sacrifice their own physical safety and peace of mind. This is further made difficult as the Peruvian government continues to neglect and exclude human rights defenders from protection policies, leaving them vulnerable to murder, torture, and wrongful imprisonment.

The Peruvian government has ignored the efforts  of human rights defenders regarding the recognition of various gender identities in Peru and does not respect international laws. “The state does not comply with Opinion 24-17, which recommends gender identity laws for the full development of transgender people. The protection of trans human rights defenders is also insufficient, leading to ongoing threats, persecutions, and murders.”

Moreover, Miluska notes that the recent withdrawal of foreign aid by the United States[1], affects the programmes reliant on these funds and “creates great uncertainty about their continuation and overall progress in gender equality and human rights. I am deeply concerned about how this will unfold.”

Finding resilience with renewed energy

During her time in Shelter City, Miluska realized that she needed to pay more attention to her own rest and wellbeing. By taking time for herself, she found new energy, peace, and fulfilment, “I needed time to get back to myself, rest, and in this way, do my work with renewed energy.”

She participated in trainings on digital safety and security, storytelling, and wellbeing with other human rights defenders, among others. She also focused on rest and relaxation, deciding to do fun, relaxing activities that she had not had time for.

“I have learned that it’s necessary to rest, to stop when needed, when your body and emotions ask for it. It’s necessary to say ‘this far,’ ‘this is where I draw the line,’ ‘this is my limit.’ It’s absolutely necessary to take time for myself. That’s something I really value, putting my rest first above all else now.”

Despite the challenges in Peru, Miluska continues to defend the rights of the LGBTIQA+ community, transwomen, transmigrants, and trans homeless people by offering legal, economic, healthcare, and social protection and support.

“I started this work because of two driving factors: the inequalities within the transgender community, where transwomen and lesbian women were underrepresented, and my passion for law. I sought recognition of free gender identity and the development of a gender identity law in Peru, focusing on promoting this law nationally and internationally.”

Today, Casa Zuleymi and other trans houses have become safe spaces for shelter and training in sexual and reproductive health and rights for trans people.

Miluska values the strength in the community, and their collective efforts to date.  Looking ahead, she sees a future with laws that recognize the gender identity of the community, a future that offers them social justice in hostile contexts, and a future with organizations led by transwomen human rights defenders: “we are confident that we will achieve this collectively”.

We thank Miluska for sharing her story of courage and resilience.

[1] “US freezes almost all foreign aid”, CNN Politics, January 2025.