Cyber attack against LGBTQ+ rights organisation Casa Chama
On 10 December 2020, Casa Chama was the victim of a virtual attack. During the attack the hackers took control of the organisation’s Instagram account and erased content that Casa Chama had recently published and disseminated, such as posts and videos containing information about the rights of the trans population in Brazil, health and safety guidelines, and information regarding the work and activity of the organisation such as recordings of live streams that they had published during COVID-19.
Casa Chama is a civil society organisation that advocates for the rights of the trans population in Brazil by denouncing the ongoing human rights violations this community faces. Casa Chama offers their assistance to members in areas such as healthcare, housing, employability, culture, education and security. Currently, there are approximately fifty trans people availing of the services provided by the organisation. Additionally, around 210 trans people are monitored by the organisation remotely; 90% of whom are living in the city of São Paulo and 85% of whom are in a situation of profound social vulnerability. During COVID-19, Casa Chama held more than 2000 appointments to assist trans people in understand and exercising their rights.
On 10 December 2020, Casa Chama was the victim of a virtual attack. During the attack the hackers took control of the organisation’s Instagram account and erased content that Casa Chama had recently published and disseminated, such as posts and videos containing information about the rights of the trans population in Brazil, health and safety guidelines, and information regarding the work and activity of the organisation such as recordings of live streams that they had published during COVID-19. COVID-19 and the state response to the pandemic have affected trans communities in ways that exacerbate existing systems of class, gender, sexualand racial injustice in Brazil. As the need to respond to emergencies rises, trans human rights defenders face an increased risk of arrest, physical attack, and psychological trauma.
Front Line Defenders condemns the cyber attack against Casa Chama as it believes it was directly related to their work in the defence of human rights, in particular those of the LGBTQI+ community in Brazil. Front Line recognises this virtual attack as part of a pattern of ongoing harassment against the trans population in Brazil. Front Line urges the authorities in Brazil to guarantee, in all circumstances, that human rights defenders and human rights organisations are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
