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OAS Presents Resource Guide of Best Practices for Law Enforcement's Interaction with LGBTI+ communities

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), in support of the LGBTI+ Core Group, has made available to countries in the Americas the comprehensive resource guide: “Police, Law Enforcement, and LGBTI+ Communities: Best Practices in Training and Capacity-Building”.

The Guide is available here.

This resource provides concrete information and best practices in training and capacity-building for police and other law enforcement agencies to improve operational effectiveness in interactions with LGBTI+ persons and communities across the Americas. The aim is for law enforcement agencies to be able to perform their crucial role in safeguarding the safety and security of all citizens, while at the same time avoiding discrimination, systemic bias, and neglect towards LGBTI+ individuals, which have historically encountered significant challenges in their interactions with police.

Steven Griner, Director of the OAS Department of Public Security, which supported the development of the guide, said that “Improving law enforcement interactions with LGBTI+ communities will help reduce violence and discrimination, build public trust, will ultimately foster safer and more democratic communities in the Americas.”.

The guide outlines 10 key points for improving operational effectiveness in interactions with LGBTI+ persons and communities, including ensuring professionalism in all police interactions to build public trust and developing clear policies that prohibit discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics. It emphasizes the importance of leadership commitment, ongoing training at all levels, and the creation of dedicated points of contact to facilitate communication with LGBTI+ individuals. Additionally, it stresses the importance of accountability, improved systems for collecting and tracking data on violence against LGBTI+ people to inform crime-fighting, the use of communication channels and community events to convey messages of respect and nondiscrimination, and the establishment of clear reporting channels. Furthermore, the guide highlights the need for specialized training and provides training topics, tips, and best practices.

The resource was developed following a roundtable discussion in May 2024, which brought together experts from law enforcement, civil society, and government across the region to share insights on best practices. The Guide was presented last week at the Commission on Judicial and Political Affairs (CAJP) of the Permanent Council of the OAS.

Reference: E-094/24