Quiteria Franco (Maracaibo, Zulia state, October 3, 1971)
Education:
Bachelor of
Education, major in Languages (English, French). University of Zulia. 1996.
Diploma of Translation (English/Spanish). Metropolitan University. 2004
Master in
Applied Linguistics. Simón Bolívar
University. 2013.
Occupation:
Human
rights defender
Advisor-Consultant in Human Rights, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion.
She took her first steps in activism in Amazonas Mujeres de Venezuela in 2003, with modest participation in the organization's digital magazine.
She was a
professor-advisor of the Sexual Diversity Group at Simón Bolívar University
from 2012 to 2014.
She has
been a member of Unión Afirmativa since 2013, in charge of managing the
organization's social networks.
She has been the General Coordinator of Unión Afirmativa an NGO that works for LGBTI people’s rights since 2014.
She was the
General Coordinator of the LGBTI Network of Venezuela from November 2014 to
March 2018.
She has
trained and educated hundreds of journalists and social communicators in
Venezuela on issues and rights associated with LGBTI people in the country
since 2014.
She has written several reports on the human rights situation of
LGBTI people in Venezuela that have been presented to the IACHR and the United
Nations.
Her work
includes national and international advocacy by denouncing the situation of
women and LGBTI people in Venezuela both nationally and internationally at the
IACHR and the UN.
Some of the
issues she has addressed include: discrimination based on sexual
orientation/gender identity, gender expression at work, in the media, at
school, at universities, in health services, in the military and police
forces/in prison, in public places, in public and private institutions, among
others.
She has
also addressed issues on hate crimes, violence, human trafficking and forced
migration that affect LGBTI+ people.
She
participated as co-author and presenter of the "Report on the Human Rights
Situation of LGBTI people in Venezuela" before the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights on March 17, 2015 in Washington, USA.
She
participated in the drafting and presentation of the "Report on the Human
Rights Situation of LGBTI people in Venezuela" presented to the Human
Rights Committee of the United Nations Organization during the evaluation of
the Venezuelan State on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights in June 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.
She is
co-author of the Report of the Venezuelan LGBTI Network on the rights of LGBTI
people in Venezuela submitted to the United Nations for the Universal Periodic
Review (UPR) of the Venezuelan State in 2016.
She is the
author of the Report of Union Afirmativa of Venezuela on the Human Rights
Situation of LGBTI People in Venezuela before the United Nations Organization
for the Universal Periodic Review of Venezuela in 2016.
In 2016,
she exercised two speaking rights before the National Assembly of Venezuela to
present the proposed Legislative Agenda for the Rights of LGBTI People, in May
before the Permanent Commission of Social Development and in June before the
Permanent Commission of Internal Policy.
In 2016,
she received recognition for her work as a human rights defender from the
Permanent Commission of Internal Policy of the National Assembly of Venezuela.
In 2017,
she worked at Amnesty International, Venezuela, as Coordinator of the Stop
Transphobia Project.
From 2018
to 2023, she was a member of the Civil Society Advisory Group at UN Women for
Latin America and the Caribbean.
In November
2018, she wrote and presented the report "Political crisis in Venezuela
and its effects on LGBTI people" to the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights.
From 2018
to 2020, she was part of the technical team Coordinator of the Regional Network
of LGBTI people in a situation of mobility in the Americas.
In 2019,
she participated in the United States Department of State program known as the
International Visitors Leadership Program/ Human and Civil Rights for
Marginalized Communities: A multi-regional project. With presence in
Washington, DC; Seattle, Washington; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Orlando,
Florida.
Since 2019,
she has participated in the spaces of the Humanitarian structure in Venezuela,
with the purpose of ensuring the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people by actively
participating in the Protection Cluster, in the area of responsibility for
gender-based violence, in the working group on human trafficking, and in the
Gender Equality Network.
From 2020
to 2022 she was co-coordinator of the Working Group on Modern Slavery in
Venezuela.
As
Coordinator of Unión Afirmativa, Quiteria Franco is a member and representative
of the organization in the different networks and alliances that we mention
below:
The
Orange Network that
works for the right of women to a life free of violence, a member of
The
Alliance ConEllas
that works to make visible the impact on women as a result of the Complex
Humanitarian Emergency in Venezuela.
The
Working Group on Modern Slavery in Venezuela, which raises awareness and works for victims of
trafficking, violence and other associated crimes.
The
Equal Rights Coalition, a global alliance for the rights of people with different sexual
orientations, gender identities and other characteristics.
The
Regional Network for the Protection of LGBTIQ+ people in the Americas, a network that works
for the rights of LGBTI migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
The
Network of Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Organizations in Latin America and the
Caribbean, a
network that works to create spaces for reflection, dialogue and work to
articulate actions that address the effects of discrimination and violence in
the public and private spheres against adolescents, young people, adults and
older adults who identify, or name, or make themselves visible as lesbians in
Latin America and the Caribbean.
Recognitions
and awards
In 2016,
the Permanent Commission of Internal Policy of the National Assembly of
Venezuela awarded her a diploma of recognition for her work as a prominent
defender of women's human rights
In 2021,
the news portal Efecto Cocuyo included her in the list of 10 outstanding women
during that year.
In 2024,
the Embassy of the Netherlands in Venezuela together with the Impact Hub
awarded her a recognition among the 100 leading women during that year.
Publications
Guide on
the Protection of LGBTIQ+ Persons in Humanitarian Action in Venezuela, 2023. https://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/publications/1471/policy-and-guidance/guidelines/guia-sobre-proteccion-de-personas-lgtbtiq-en-la
Guide for
the collection of information and data on LGBTI people in Venezuela: Building
true social inclusion through information and data on SOGIE, 2021. Available
for download https://www.unionafirmativa.org.ve/originales/guia-de-informacion-y-datos-sobre-lgbti-en-venezuela/
Manual for
addressing issues and rights related to LGBTI people in the Media in Venezuela,
2021. Available for download at: https://www.unionafirmativa.org.ve/originales/manual-para-el-abordaje-de-temas-y-derechos-de-lgbti-en-medios-de-comunicacion-social-en-venezuela/
GUIDE TO
SUPPORT HEALTH PERSONNEL FOR THE CARE OF LGBTI PEOPLE. 2022. https://www.unionafirmativa.org.ve/educacion/derribar-fronteras-en-la-atencion-de-la-salud-de-las-personas-lgbti-en-venezuela/
GUIDE TO
ACTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, IDENTITY AND GENDER
EXPRESSION IN VENEZUELA. 2022. https://www.unionafirmativa.org.ve/educacion/actua-contra-la-discriminacion/
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