Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda is principally a rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex work and gender diverse organization that directly targets and advocates for the rights of rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex workers, gender non conforming youth, gender non conforming sex workers and intersex youth with a main focus on rural transgender youth sex workers and gender non conforming sex workers in western Uganda.
At Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex workers, gender non conforming youth, gender non conforming youth sex workers and intersex youth are at the centre of decision making ,leadership and management .The leadership is comprised of rural transgender youth sex workers and gender non conforming sex workers to oversee that programming ,decision making and management targets and is inclusive of rural transgender youth sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers.
Sex work is a way of earning a living for many rural transgender youth sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers but it is also life threatening. Sex workers in Uganda have continued to be at heightened risk of experiencing violence. But for rural sex workers and more so rural transgender youth sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers, their exposure to human rights abuse, violations, stigma, criminalization, oppression and denial of access to sexual reproductive health and rights services is almost double. Rural transgender youth sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers have remained one of the most vulnerable and marginalized population groups facing multiple human rights violations coupled with discrimination and stigma. The criminalization of sex work in Uganda also affects rural transgender youth sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers, the current punitive laws don’t protect their rights, other Laws affecting rural transgender youth sex workers and gender diverse youth sex workers include the penal code (chapter 9,sec 136-139) , The Registration of Persons Act 2015, The HIV Prevention and Control Act 2014, The Non-governmental Organisation Act 2016 among many others. All the above laws contribute to the continuous and routine violence, human rights abuses, violations, stigma, criminalization, oppression and denial of access to sexual reproductive health and rights services.
Amplifying the voices, issues and concerns of rural transgender sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers in the Uganda sex worker movement and the society. Challenge repressive punitive laws and policies that impede on all human rights including health rights of rural transgender sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers. Enhance and increase access to health services through support in provision of essential supplies, referral and HIV prevention strategies for rural transgender sex workers and gender non conforming youth sex workers.