In 2019, COMCAVIS TRANS was recognized with the 2019 Nansen Award by UNHCR for its work with forcibly displaced LGBTI people, migrants and deportees with specific protection needs. Also, in 2021, our Executive Director was appointed as the first trans woman High Profile Collaborator of the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR at the global level.
One of the most recent and important achievements for us is the installation of the Casa Refugio Karla Avelar LGBTIQ, which aims to provide safe and dignified shelter for LGBTIQ people at eminent risk, victims of violence, internally displaced persons, people in transit, deportees and human rights defenders and people with other protection needs in El Salvador. The shelter has a shelter capacity for a maximum of 25 people, and has a recreation area, living room, dining room, kitchen and their respective bedrooms. With this shelter, we have strengthened the protection mechanisms provided by COMCAVIS TRANS to LBTI women and LGBTI population in general.
From 2017 to the present, we have focused on strengthening and empowering communities at risk in El Salvador, achieving an effective and lasting intervention in 8 departments of the Salvadoran territory (San Vicente; Sonsonate; Santa Ana; La Libertad; Morazán; La Unión; San Miguel; La Paz), articulating a protection network with 186 LGBTI leaders. In addition, this intervention has led to the creation of 4 new collectives: Colectivo LGBTI santaneco, Colectivo Perlas del Oriente, Nueva Generación and Manos en acción.
Finally, in December 2021, we achieved the judicial recognition of the name change of 2 young trans women, paving the way for the approval of the Gender Identity Law.