*By Marcelo Nery
I am the coordinator of a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center. During the period in which I have been in charge of this center, the main focus has been violence against young people, without ever leaving aside the discussion on the main violations of individual rights and the social problems we face in Brazil, considering the different regional realities of north to south of the country.
In this context, topics such as neglect, parental authority, exploitation, sexual abuse, domestic and family violence, mental health, humanitarian emergencies, urban law, prejudice, migration, mother tongue, criminal activities, child labor and gender, among others, have been addressed. in our reports and knowledge dissemination and transfer activities. Among these topics that are so current and, at the same time, so persistent, allow me to highlight the last one mentioned here.
This particular interest is justified by the complexity and difficulties inherent to the issue. Don't get me wrong, at WHO gender-based violence is clearly recognized as a social and public health priority. However, we cannot ignore that as this issue expands to also include the LGBTQIA+ community, the difficulties of approaching the issue pragmatically become greater. So, we must observe this aspect with greater awareness.
In fact, United Nations agencies, such as the WHO, frequently request that countries enact laws to protect LGBTQIA+ citizens, warn that prejudgments prevent them from having access to health and employment, publish reports, guides and recommendations to protect their rights and promote global campaigns for LGBTQIA+ equality. This happens regularly.
It is remarkable how 34 years ago, on May 17, 1990, at the 43rd General Assembly of the WHO, homosexuality was removed from the list of mental disorders in the International Register of Diseases (ICD). With this decision, the term “homosexualism” was eliminated, as the suffix “-ism” gives a derogatory character to the term and suggests a pathological condition. In the 11th revision of the ICD, carried out in June 2018, the WHO excluded transsexuality from the classification of mental illnesses and disorders, representing a significant advance in understanding and respect for diversity. Still, discrimination remains rooted in many aspects of everyday life.
Historically, issues related to sexual and gender diversity have been marginalized in many parts of the world, which can result in a lack of understanding and recognition of the specific violence faced by LGBTQIA+ people. In many societies, cultural and religious norms are cited to justify resistance to the implementation of policies and programs designed to protect these people; Consequently, in some jurisdictions, laws and policies may be hostile or inadequate to establish reporting channels and combat commonly occurring gender-based violence.
In Brazil there is a striking duality: on the one hand, it hosts the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade in the world, with millions of participants on the streets of São Paulo, in addition to a variety of other parades taking place in different capitals and cities across the country. On the other hand, despite advances in the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity, significant intolerance towards LGBTQIA+ individuals persists, which translates into various forms of discrimination and violence.
For a more humanized approach, however contradictory it may seem at first, technology and technological innovation can be important promoters of empathy and respect. They have the power to play a crucial role in promoting a more inclusive and egalitarian society.
Currently, within our reach, there is a remarkable capacity to transcend values, customs, beliefs and attitudes, paving the way for significant transformations in relation to the LGBTQIA+ community. However, we must recognize that change brings both opportunities and challenges.
Regarding opportunities, we observed that online communication provides the LGBTQIA+ movement with a platform to increase visibility and awareness of issues related to social rights and citizenship. This gives breadth to the voices of those who want to share their stories and the way they perceive the world, educate about their struggles and mobilize supporters, regardless of geographic location. This dynamic creates communities of support and solidarity, which is especially meaningful for those who live in areas where local support may be limited.
In a gray area, between advantages and disadvantages, digital technologies can, for example, facilitate the mobilization and organization of events, protests and political campaigns related to LGBTQIA+ rights, in addition to offering access to a wide range of information and resources. However, it is necessary to recognize that these same technologies can worsen existing disparities, leaving some groups within the LGBTQIA+ community even more marginalized and excluded.
As far as challenges go, we cannot underestimate the spread of misinformation and hate speech online, which can undermine the efforts of the LGBTQIA+ movement and undermine confidence in the validity of its causes. It is also vital to recognize online dehumanization, relativization and satirization, strategies that aim to devalue, subordinate and normalize violence against minority groups.
Another relevant point is that digital technologies, although they offer opportunities for demonstrations, can expose activists to security risks and privacy violations. Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that authoritarian governments and anti-LGBTQIA+ groups can use technologies to monitor, persecute and attack academics, activists, candidates, especially, and members of social movements that defend sexual and gender diversity. Therefore, I recommend knowledge of the studies developed by InternetLab on gender-based political violence, online violence, free knowledge, gendered disinformation and the like.
Given this, we need to examine the numerous potentialities and risks of using new information technologies for political actions in Brazil, especially considering the context of the development of public policies aimed at vulnerable groups.
It is crucial to consider the potential increase in efficiency when integrating diverse perspectives to enrich the development of technological products and services. Recognize how LGBTQIA+ perspectives in the development and application of Information Technology can lead to advances, by introducing new paradigms for building digital environments that promote human rights, resulting in innovations in both the startup ecosystem and the GovTech sector.
Therefore, we can conclude that it is essential to evaluate the social and economic impact of expanding the influence of these environments, establishing complex information ecologies that capitalize on the capabilities of existing technologies and potential improvements. The integration of LGBTQIA+ people within technology paves the way for the development of diverse and collaborative ecosystems, adapted to the needs of marginalized communities and groups that demand our attention and consideration.
*Marcelo Batista Nery is a researcher at think tank from ABES and the Oscar Sala Chair at the Institute of Advanced Studies at USP (IEA-USP), coordinator of Technology Transfer and Head of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center (BRA-61) at the Center for Violence Studies at the University of São Paulo .
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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