RESEARCH
Groundbreaking Research: Addressing Violence and Access to Justice for Transgender Women in the Pacific
Violence against transgender women in the Pacific is a pervasive yet severely underreported crisis. Facing discrimination due to our gender identity and expression, transgender women are at heightened risk of violence, while profound distrust in justice systems prevents most from ever reporting these crimes. Reliable data is scarce, obscuring the true scale of the problem.
Haus of Khameleon believes transformative change requires an intersectional approach that centers the unique vulnerabilities of transgender women. Critically, solutions must be community-led, with transgender voices guiding every stage—from planning to evaluation.
With generous support from FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund, the European Union, UN Women Pacific, and the Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM), Haus of Khameleon is launched a pioneering research into transgender women’s experiences of violence and our barriers to justice. Conducted in collaboration with dedicated consultants and partners, this initiative will generate vital evidence to empower our advocacy.
The findings will directly inform and equip Haus of Khameleon to engage government, policymakers, law enforcement, and civil society. Our goal is clear: to drive the development of effective national legislation, policies, and programs that prevent violence and ensure equitable access to justice for transgender women in Fiji and the Pacific.
Context of Support:
This research is a key component of the European Union’s broader initiative, “Balancing the Scales: Improving Fijian Women's Access to Justice Project.” UN Women’s support for Haus of Khameleon complements parallel funding for FWRM’s research examining barriers to justice for all women in Fiji, creating a comprehensive approach to gender justice.
RESEARCH LAUNCH
The official launch of the project " Balancing the Scales: Improving Fijian Women's Access to Justice" in May 2016 and was attended by members of the judiciary, civil society, and the development sector. Haus of Khameleon will receive support under this project to implement its Research on GBV.
RESEARCH DESIGN WORKSHOP
At the Research Design Workshop with UN Women, FWRM, Haus of Khameleon Research Team and the Research Consultant. May 4th 2017.
At the Research Design Workshop with UN Women, FWRM, Haus of Khameleon Research Team and the Research Consultant. May 4th 2017.
RESEARCH SCOPING ACTIVITY
Haus of Khameleon successfully completed its comprehensive scoping research across Fiji's four main divisions: the Northern Division (encompassing Labasa and Savusavu), the Western Division (covering Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Rakiraki, and Tavua), the Eastern Division (Levuka), and the Central Division (including Navua and the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor).
The primary objectives of these scoping visits were to gather essential groundwork information and establish key logistics for the upcoming research phase. Specific goals included:
Community Mapping: Estimating the size and distribution of the local transgender women population in each area.
Operational Planning: Identifying and securing suitable venues to host Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
Participant Logistics: Arranging catering for the ten participants in each FGD session.
Safety and Security: Conducting thorough site assessments to ensure the safety and security of all participants and staff.
Stakeholder Engagement: Establishing contact with and recruiting key informants, particularly essential service providers, for in-depth interviews.
Feasibility Assessment: Evaluating broader research logistics, including local partnerships, travel, and any site-specific challenges or considerations.
This foundational work ensures that the subsequent research phase is both methodologically sound and sensitively aligned with the communities involved.
HK RESEARCH TEAM
At the 3 days Research Training for all the Research Assistants facilitated by the Research Consultant.