Collective Grief and Outrage at the Murder of Walter Trochez, Human Rights Activist and GYCA Member
Members and the leadership of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) are saddened by the terrible news that GYCA member and human rights activist, Walter Trochez, was assassinated on Sunday, December 13, 2009, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras where he lived. This death was part of ongoing violence against the gay community and resistance movement since the coup d’etat by the military in June 2009.
The network denounces this egregious violation of human rights and political freedoms, and would like to express our sincere condolences for Walter's family, friends and colleagues. Walter was a fearless advocate of human rights, especially for people living with HIV and LGBTQ people. The discrimination and violence he experienced as a gay young person, living with HIV and fighting for political freedom, did not dull his passion or diminish his remarkable confidence as an activist.
At 27 years old, Walter's many accomplishments are a testimony to the depth of his commitment to his ideals. He was the General Coordinator for the Sexual Diversity Advocacy Group, which advocates for the rights of people living with HIV and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT). He was also the Co-Founder of the Committee of Auditors, which monitors incidents of human rights abuse in Honduras, particularly those related to young people living with HIV and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Additionally, he was an active member of the National Resistance Group against the coup d’etat.
Walter's struggles and joys brought home not only the dark reality of the inequities we work to rectify, but also the magnificent potential for courage and compassion in the face of enormous opposition. The lasting impact of his tireless activism as a young person living with HIV for 12 years is evidenced in the outpouring of support he has received from many communities, ranging from political to LGBT and people in awe of his commitment for justice.
Walter was killed due to his vocal opposition to the situation in Honduras, where the democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya was deposed this past June 2009 by Roberto Micheletti. Walter was arrested and beaten on December 4th, and yet still continued to publicly protest the demise of democracy in his country, where civil rights continue to be suspended.
Whatever his politics and whether one agrees with them or not, Walter's assassination was an attack on fundamental human, civil and political rights.
Many GYCA members met Walter when he participated in the Mexico International AIDS Conference in August 2008 as part of the "Agentes de Cambio," (Agents of Change), a project that GYCA did with MTV Latin America to bring talented youth activists from all over Latin America to Mexico and train them to be effective agents of change at the conference and beyond.
Walter's energy, compassion, humor and power as a leader touched many during our time in Mexico and over the three years of his contributions to GYCA and the movement. Many of our members from Latin America have spoken richly about Walter and the experiences they shared with him, and we only wish that their words could be shared with everyone.
It is important that the truth behind what happened is acknowledged, articulated to the world, and addressed. At the same time, there is a concern that publicizing the abuses occurring in Honduras right now may put his family, friends and colleagues at further risk. However, we believe that Walter would have wanted the GYCA community to speak out, and that silence would enable the complacency that perpetuates such abuses to occur all over the world with impunity.
We hope for the safety of his family and colleagues, and that the perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions.
GYCA is a youth-led, global network of over 4,000 young people fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS in 150 countries worldwide.
We recognize the potential of young leaders, and believe they are
the best force to address HIV/AIDS among youth in their own
communities. GYCA's mission is to empower its young leaders with the
knowledge, skills, resources and opportunities they need to be
successful agents of change as part of the long term AIDS response.
Youth leadership is central to HIV prevention. Evidence shows that young people are highly influenced by
their peers when it comes to sexual behavior and drug use.
The global AIDS response cannot succeed in a sustainable
fashion without constantly rebuilding and expanding its central
leadership. Young people are inspired, impassioned, entrepreneurial,
effective and efficient at driving change at the grassroots level.
GYCA's programs create a holistic support network for a diverse community of young leaders by catalyzing systemic action that is sustainable, replicable and scalable.
Watch clips from "Love in a Time of HIV," a film commissioned by aids2031 (aids2031.org) and produced by Rockhopper TV for BBC World. GYCA has partnered with aids2031 on outreach and distribution of the series.
Click here to check out the Youth Awake! Newsletter.
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GYCA 2010 RFP elections are open!
The election process for GYCA 2010 RFPs is open and will stay open through 22 Jan. 2010.
If you are a GYCA member and are part of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Asia Pacific, or Western Europe region, click here to vote.
Please direct questions to Sydney Hushie , GYCA Program Coordinator.
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