A Chilling Trend: Silencing the Movement
A disturbing new report from Transgender Europe (TGEU) has uncovered a systematic and growing trend of violence against the trans community: the targeted murder of activists and movement leaders. The annual Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM) report for 2025, released ahead of the Trans Day of Remembrance, shows that those who are most visible in the fight for our rights are increasingly paying the ultimate price.
Over the past year, trans activists accounted for a shocking 14% of all reported murders, making them the second most targeted group after sex workers. This figure has more than doubled in just two years, rising from 6% in 2023. This isn't random violence; it's a calculated effort to intimidate and dismantle the global trans rights movement by eliminating its leaders.
The Global Picture: Key Findings for 2025
The TMM project, which has been tracking these tragedies since 2009, provides a grim snapshot of the dangers faced by trans and gender-diverse people globally. While the total number of reported murders decreased to 281 from last year's 350, researchers warn this is likely due to media indifference and algorithmic changes making these deaths invisible, rather than an actual increase in safety.
Here are the key takeaways from this year's report:
- 281 trans and gender-diverse people were reported murdered between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.
- The vast majority of victims (90%) were trans women or transfeminine people, highlighting the deadly intersection of transphobia and misogyny.
- Race remains a critical factor, with 88% of victims being Black or Brown trans people.
- Sex workers continue to be the most vulnerable group, representing 34% of all victims with a known occupation.
- Latin America and the Caribbean remain the deadliest region, accounting for 68% of all murders. For the 18th consecutive year, Brazil reported the highest number of killings.
- The violence is brutal and personal: 44% of murders were by shooting, and over one-fifth (22%) of victims were killed in their own homes.
A Call for Action and Solidarity
TGEU's report is not just a collection of statistics; it is a call to action. The organization urges governments and institutions to take concrete steps to protect trans lives:
- Protect Activists: Provide direct support and ensure the safety of trans human rights defenders and their organizations.
- Strengthen Laws: Adopt and enforce hate crime legislation that explicitly protects trans people from violence and discrimination.
- Educate and Train: Implement training for police, judiciary, and healthcare professionals to ensure they respond to anti-trans violence with the seriousness it deserves.
- Decriminalize Sex Work: Acknowledge that criminalization puts trans sex workers, the most targeted group, at extreme risk of violence.
As we prepare to honour the lives lost on the Trans Day of Remembrance (November 20), this report is a vital tool for our community. It reminds us that our fight for equality is a global one, and solidarity is our most powerful weapon against the forces seeking to silence us.
To explore the data and honour the victims, visit TGEU's new Trans Murder Monitoring website at transmurdermonitoring.tgeu.org.
