Twice Victimised: Rohingya transgender women seek recognition as ‘Third Gender’
Bilashi (not her real name), an 18-year-old transgender Rohingya woman shared that she was blamed for the Covid-19 transmission -- her neighbours calling the disease "a curse of the Almighty".
"People blame us for any disaster or any unwanted incident; for example, the recent fires at Rohingya camp," said Bilashi.
An advocacy brief, titled "In the Shadows of the Pandemic: The Gendered Impact of COVID-19 on Rohingya and Host Communities", was produced by Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG), Gender Hub in collaboration with ACAPS & NPM Analysis Hub, CARE Bangladesh, Oxfam, and UN Women.
Published in October 2020, the brief quotes a transgender Rohingya: "They call us 'Corona Virus' and say Covid-19 is coming; 'Get far away from me,' people tell us. The community does not like transgender people, and after the advent of Covid-19, they said that transgender people would not remain in our communities, and if I say something violence occurs."
Asmani (not real name), another Rohingya transgender woman, and Bilashi both managed to get Covid-19 vaccine last year. But Bilashi, who is also a sex worker, has had difficulties maintaining HIV prevention measures, such as the use of condoms.
MARGINALISED GROUP MEMBER IN WORLD'S MOST PERSECUTED MINORITY
After being beaten with a cane for hours, an unconscious, bleeding Asmani was dumped by the roadside at a Rohingya refugee camp last year. The 20-year-old transgender woman was coming home from her maternal uncle's wedding in the same camp.
She was allegedly picked up by members and followers of Harakah al-Yaqin (a Rohingya insurgent group) in the middle of the night. Her shoulder-length hair, shiny make-up, and female attire led to the assault, Asmani says. She thought she would die that night.
"I regained consciousness after four days at one of the MSF (Doctors Without Borders) health facilities. I thought I wouldn't make it alive. Around seven al-Yaqin men confined me in an empty room. They tied my mouth, hands, and legs; chopped off my hair; hit me for over an hour; and I lost consciousness," said Asmani.
Asmani, who loves to dance, now lives with her younger brother, elder sister, and brother-in-law. She now has a "Hijra Guru-ma" (mentor). She is a member of a marginalised group in the most persecuted minority in the world.
According to the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), transgender people of Rohingya ethnicity are twice victimised -- first as Rohingya, and then, as transgender. It mentions in the agenda the "human rights situation that requires the council's attention".
Bandhu Social Welfare Society in Cox's Bazar has confirmed such hate crimes in the Rohingya camp. Asmani is not the only transgender woman who survived assault. Also, the number of Rohingya transgender women is unknown.
"I am a woman. My female heart and soul are trapped inside a male body," said the Guru-ma (the leader of the transgender community). She leads 25 transgender women, including Asmani.
"Here, in the refugee camp in Bangladesh, I am forced to introduce myself as a man. I simply cannot be myself. If they (al-Yaqin) see us with long hair with make-up, in women's clothing, they torture us," Rohingya Guru-ma Soheli, said.
Locals in the Rohingya community often throw stones at transgender women if they wear women's clothes. Being humiliated by neighbours, and living with the fear of physical and psychological torture, Rohingya transgender women are forced to identify themselves as "men".
Bullied for being a "beautiful boy" since her childhood, 18-year-old Nayana (not her real name) said, "We do not have a safe place inside the camp where we can share our feelings as we are constantly being bullied because of our long hair, ear piercing, make-up, and 'womanly behaviour'. This is who we are. Just because I was born in the wrong body, I cannot be who I am."
Referring to an EU-funded safe space, run by the Danish Refugee Council, where Bangladeshi transgender women get psychosocial assistance, Asmani, who is also a former volunteer working in gender-based violence response for different NGOs, said, "We need a place where we can go and be who we are."
HOW RECOGNITION MAY IMPROVE PLIGHT OF ROHINGYA TRANSGENDER WOMEN
UNHCR defines "sexual and gender-based violence" (SGBV) as an umbrella term for any harmful act perpetrated against a person's will -- based on gender norms and unequal power relations which encompasses threats of violence and coercion that can be physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual in nature. Rohingya transgender women in the camp are subject to all components of SGBV. Pandemic made it worse for them.
Back in Myanmar, these transgender women were known as "Natyafua". Now, Soheli, Nayana, and Asmani want an identity, a recognition of being "transgender women" in documents and identity cards.
In a discussion with Bangladeshi transgender rights activist Joya Sikder, the importance of recognising transgender women in the Rohingya community can bring about social change and protection.
"Transgender women are vulnerable. Rohingya transgender women are more vulnerable. First of all, they are displaced and a minority, then being transgender causes further marginalisation. Based on their gender identity, they are abused, and that needs to stop," said Joya.
"Bangladesh government has given refuge to the Rohingya population, and it's also the government's duty to recognise Rohingya transgender women. A recognised identity can create awareness in the Rohingya community. More initiatives can educate people about the social bias to prevent gender-based violence against Rohingya transgender women. Families of transgender women also need awareness," emphasised Joya.
Dil Afrose Jahan is a freelance investigative journalist and fact checker based in Bangladesh.
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