https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-02/an-interview-with-us-special-envoy-to-lgbtqi,/102047410https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-02/an-interview-with-us-special-envoy-to-lgbtqi,/102047410

UCTRANS

UCTRANS – United Caribbean Trans Network is the first Caribbean trans initiative that has

encompass community voices together to advocate on behalf of the Caribbean trans community

to promote the protection and recognition of the human rights of trans persons in their region.

UCTRANS envisions a network that highlights issues experienced by all trans persons and wishes

to ensure that trans-masculine and non-binary persons are represented.

We have begun work in conjunction with our communities and government to champion the

human rights protection and healthcare needs of trans persons as well as to provide support

in leadership, governance and strategic guidance to the local transgender movements in the

region, including those in The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize,

Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Dominican Republic, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

(OECS) and Haiti.

Borad members

Yashia Val	Chair	Haiti
Nairovi Castello	Vice Chair	Dominican Republic
Millie Milton	Secretary	Guyana
Tori Culmer	Treasurer	Bahamas
Matreen Colom	Public Relations	Suriname

We came together to form UCTRANS to strengthen trans movements and gender-diverse communities in the Caribbean region. Our voices are now being heard to be able to achieve the full recognition of our rights. COVID 19, hurricanes, flooding, over the last two year has impacted our work but we pushed through. Our mission To build the capacity of Transgender organizations and those working with Trans people regionally, while providing technical support in order to advance Human Rights, adequate protection of the law, promotion of sexual and reproductive health and general well-being. Our Vision A Caribbean where Trans people are free from stigma and discrimination, can enjoy supportive Human Rights-based policy frameworks, Gender Identity recognition laws as well as progressive and efficient Transgender-focused healthcare.

Climate justice and environmental work, led by trans organizations – who are already under resourced,
under capacity and challenged to get any of their needs met – are rare.
This is a bold, but much needed step from UCTRANS and we will need to mobilize for support and to
create an awareness among trans individuals and organizations to garner understanding for UCTRANS’
leadership to embark on this work. As Caribbeans we all see and experience collectively the effects of
climate change, we are building knowledge, making links and creating trust in our membership that
this is indeed important enough to take on amidst so many other competing priorities. We are confident
that our planned baseline research will positively influence the trans community.
UCTRANS has embarked on a first of its kind research project in the Caribbean, linking Climate Change to
Gender Identity recognition. To this end, UCTRANS has begun to train its leadership and
organization members.
We have started capacity building in relation to the topic “Linking Climate Change to
Gender Identity Recognition”

Quality of life: From survival to thriving mode

Our Executive Director Speaks at AIDS 2022

The fourth 90 UNAIDS target is to “ensure that 90% of people with viral suppression have good health-related quality of life”. This ensures that we move beyond thinking of success in purely clinical terms. It embodies the aspiration to secure a high quality of life for people living with HIV. But what does quality of life mean? And can it be measured? These sessions will present an introduction to the fourth 90 and what it tries to capture. It will also look at what “quality of life” means for different communities of people living with HIV. It will end with a panel discussion about the pros and cons of having a scale for quantifying quality of life for people living with HIV. Join us at 10:00am as our Executive Director speaks at the AIDS Conference 2022 on :Living amid stigma and discrimination and criminalization: Where does quality of life fit?

Living amid stigma and discrimination and criminalization: Where does quality of life fit?

Alexus D’MARCO, UCTRANS -Bahamas, The

1. Denouncing all forms of discrimination and negative cultural

attitudes towards gender identity, including fighting for Human and

other Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Trans people.

2. Establishing strategic alliances with government, Civil Society

Organizations (NGOs), institutions and other stakeholders interested in processes to advance the work of the Network.

3. Provide oversight to the creation and modification of Gender Identity and Human Rights sensitization and education strategies directed at trans people and the general public.

4. Advance research around Trans identities to improve visibility and access to social infrastructure.

5. Integration, inclusion and increased representation of trans persons in decision making processes at the national, regional and

international levels.

6. Access to quality and comprehensive healthcare.

7. Making visible the functions of the network in society.

Renewed commitment to our Organizational Objectives:

1. Denouncing all forms of discrimination and negative cultural

attitudes towards gender identity, including fighting for Human and

other Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Trans people.

2. Establishing strategic alliances with government, Civil Society

Organizations (NGOs), institutions and other stakeholders interested in processes to advance the work of the Network.

3. Provide oversight to the creation and modification of Gender Identity and Human Rights sensitization and education strategies directed at trans people and the general public.

4. Advance research around Trans identities to improve visibility and access to social infrastructure.

5. Integration, inclusion and increased representation of trans persons in decision making processes at the national, regional and

international levels.

6. Access to quality and comprehensive healthcare.

7. Making visible the functions of the network in society.

The Dominican Republic —United Caribbean Transperson Network has new board. Under the leadership of Alexus D’Marco -Executive Director who is tasked with the way forward of UCTRANS.

Members of the Board are:

· Chair – Yashia Val,Haiti
· Vice Chair ) – Nairovi Castillo ,Dominican Republic
· Secretary – Mille Milton, Guyana
· Treasurer – Tori Culmer ,Bahamas · Public Relations – Marteen Colom ,Suriname

Trans community members from Guyana Trans United received hampers in a collaborative venture by United Caribbean Trans Network this activity aim assisted vulnerable Transgenders who are infected or affected by HIV or those who are presently unemployed. Amongst the set were two female sex workers who received hampers.

We will be hosting our AGM – Board Meeting and Board of Directors Elections, Thursday 30th June,2022 at its general meeting in Santo Domingo . The new Board of Directors will guide UCTRANS in its new direction for 2022-2025. The Board will be trans led representatives from the Caribbean . The Board will serves a 3-year term.