Crisis in the prison system: Trans women report violence and abandonment in Paraguayan prisons
A recent report prepared by the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (MNP) and the organization Casa Diversa has brought to light the alarming situation faced by trans women within Paraguay’s penitentiary centers. The study, titled ‘Trans Penitentiary Diagnosis’, compiles testimonies from 60 people who were deprived of liberty between the years 2020 and 2026, revealing a landscape of systematic human rights violations.
Critical deficiencies in access to health and safety
The data obtained is conclusive: all of the women interviewed rated the healthcare received as poor or insufficient. Among the main complaints are the prolonged delays in receiving medical assistance, the lack of privacy regarding sexual health issues, and the critical shortage of essential medicines.
Trans women in Paraguay face inhumane and overcrowded conditions, suffering constant episodes of physical and verbal violence and sexual exploitation due to the lack of effective protection protocols.
Non-compliance with protocols and social exclusion
One of the most critical points highlighted by Yren Noriega, representative of Casa Diversa, is the confinement of these women in male pavilions. Despite the existence of a Ministry of Justice protocol that mandates separation into differentiated spaces to guarantee their integrity, this regulation is not being applied in practice.
- Recurrent violence: Inmates reported arbitrary transfers and extortion in order to access cells considered safe.
- Educational gap: Only 8.3% of the trans women surveyed had access to training or education programs within the prisons.
- Absence of reintegration: The absolute lack of state programs aimed at the social reintegration of this population sector was denounced.
Towards a dialogue table
Currently, it is estimated that about 30 trans people remain incarcerated in the Paraguayan prison system. Given this scenario, the organizations responsible for the report hope that the findings will serve as a basis for establishing a working group with State institutions. The primary objective is to transform living conditions in prisons and guarantee dignified treatment that respects the identity and fundamental rights of people deprived of their liberty.
