At the time, many failed to call this what it was - femicide - yet with almost two decades of increased knowledge, let us hope that as a society, we may now look at this case a little clearer. Sion Grech was a young trans sex worker, and her murder greatly highlights the intersection of gender identity and sex work when we discuss gender-based violence.
Femicide is defined as the killing of a woman because of her gender, and these acts of violence are extremely common globally. Whilst these victims are already prone to being pushed aside, systems of justice are rarely ever willing or in place to effectively function when these victims are trans women or trans sex workers.
Trans individuals, particularly trans women and trans sex workers, face pervasive discrimination and violence, marginalisation, and lack of rights and protections, especially for trans sex workers, who also face stigma and criminalisation.
These identities compound the discrimination and violence that any one individual may face, and it is imperative that the legal system recognises and addresses these intersecting forms of oppression. There is a systemic lack of justice within our society when it comes to crimes committed against these marginalised individuals, and what that communicates to these communities is that their lives are not worth nurturing, protecting and - in Sion's case - even defending after they have been killed.
It is vital that law enforcement agencies and the legal system begin to recognise and prosecute femicides of sex workers, whether they are cisgender or trans, and consider them as the hate crimes that they are. Increase awareness and understanding of trans issues within law enforcement and the legal system. Treat all femicides as hate crimes, regardless of the victim's occupation or perceived lifestyle.
