Documenting Transphobic Violence and the Struggle for Safety and Protection
Across Asia and the Pacific, trans and gender-diverse people continue to face high levels of stigma, discrimination, and violence — much of it unreported, undocumented, and unaddressed. To challenge this silence and build collective tools for protection and change, the Trans Thrive Project, led by the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) in collaboration with country partners Samabhabona (India), SEED Foundation (Malaysia), Venasa (Sri Lanka), and Blue Diamond Society (Nepal), has launched a set of community-based resources titled Not Alone: Documenting Transphobic Violence and the Struggle for Safety and Protection.
About the Trans Thrive Project
The Trans Thrive Project is an APTN-led regional initiative that centers community knowledge and trans-led research to address the systemic barriers that prevent trans people from accessing safety, protection, and justice. Through participatory research with trans communities and advocates, the project identifies how transphobic violence manifests in different social, cultural, and political contexts — and how communities are resisting, surviving, and supporting one another in the face of these challenges.
About the ‘Not Alone’ Resources
The Not Alone publication series brings together the findings and results from collaborative research, storytelling, and analysis. Developed with and for trans communities, these resources include:
- Country Research Reports from India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal — documenting the realities of transphobic violence, gaps in legal protection, and how communities are responding and surviving .
- Regional Synthesis Report — a cross-country analysis highlighting shared patterns of violence and discrimination, and a detailed analysis of how they manifest in society.
- Advocacy Toolkit — designed to support community-led initiatives, legal reform efforts, and awareness campaigns aimed at improving protection mechanisms for trans and gender-diverse people.
Together, these resources form a foundation for evidence-based advocacy — ensuring that policymakers, human rights institutions, and development actors listen to trans voices, recognize trans experiences, and commit to meaningful change.
Building Safety and Solidarity
At the heart of the Not Alone project is a simple truth: no one should face violence or exclusion because of their gender identity or expression. Yet, trans communities across Asia and the Pacific continue to navigate unsafe environments, inadequate legal protections, and deeply entrenched transphobia.
Through the Trans Thrive Project, APTN and its partners are not only documenting these injustices but are also hoping to strengthen the collective capacity of trans movements to respond. From building community-based reporting systems to advocating for inclusive laws and services, the work demonstrates how research, when rooted in community care and solidarity, can drive real transformation.