Meet a Grantee Partner
Instituto Runa
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Instituto Runa de Desarrollo y Estudios sobre Género (Instituto Runa) promotes cultural development, human rights, sexual diversity, and social and economic justice in Peru, with a particular focus on young people, women and trans communities. The organization was founded in 1996 by a group of professionals that were concerned about gender, sexual and reproductive rights. Through the Sexual Diversity Program they have been working intensely to promote and defend the rights of trans people through monitoring violence and discrimination and issuing public denouncements. This work is complemented by their community education and advocacy. Intituto Runa’s historic achievement includes the documentation of transphobic violence based on gender identity in the country as well as the development and training of emerging leaders on the rights of trans people.
Instituto Runa has broken considerable ground in the judicial system in Peru. Judges and attorneys are now required to complete a trans rights training as part of their certification. In addition, through the documentation of over 100 cases of abuse, Instituto Runa succeeded in mobilizing the Public Advocate’s Office to defend trans communities, and published its first book revealing the systemic human rights violations against trans people. Instituto Runa also represents trans communities internationally, as the trans secretariat for the International Lesbian and Gay Association World and as part of the Organization of American States LGBT advocacy group in Latin America.
The lack of public policies and procedures in all sectors of government due to prejudice and lack of knowledge, and the continued lack of understanding of the legal rights of trans citizens highlights the urgency for Instituto Runa’s work. With its long-established national and regional campaigns led by trans activists and allies, the organization continues to promote the legal framework to ensure productive advocacy for trans rights.