🤝Annex 1: Risk assessment guiding questions

Step 1: Assess risk

These are some of the questions you can ask the LGBTQIA+ survivors to assess the likelihood of risks and harm.

• Assess the survivor’s violence experience and its severity. Go through the listing of different types of violence as the survivor may normalise some of the violence they face and will not disclose them as risks or harm.

• Assess if the survivor was going or likely to be exposed to more harm or violence.

• For OGBV cases, ask

  • Who are the perpetrators?

  • How severe is the violence or its impact?

When survivors normalise violence, there is a likelihood that they will perpetuate the same violence to others, the survivor may turn out to be a perpetrator.

1. Understand that the perpetrator may not be aware that they are the perpetrator.

2. They may use terminology like “mutual abusive”. But it is not real, read here https://www.thehotline.org/resources/mutual-abuse-its-not-real/

Step 2: Assess the level of acceptance by the survivor's family members, friends and/or colleagues.

LGBTQIA+ people’s risks to violence and access to support can vary significantly based on whether they are out or not, have transitioned, or not.

Step 3: Assess survivor’s support system and network.

LGBTQIA+ affirming support services may not be adequate in Malaysia. It is important to assess and prioritize survivors’ existing support systems, including them as part of the mitigation or response strategies.

• Ask the survivor if they are financially independent?

  • Do they have their own source of income?

  • Do they have a diploma or degree, and/or other working experience, or qualifications?

• Ask the survivor if there have family member, relative or friend they can access support from, or escape violence with:

  • Can the survivor stay with this person temporarily?

  • Is this person known by the perpetrator?

  • Can this person provide financial support?

• Ask if the survivors have their own trusted service providers. For example, a trusted GP, counsellors, gynaecologist etc.

A trusted service providers may reduce the likelihood of retraumatising or further GBV and harm from service providers.

Coming Out

There can be a huge cost and repercussions to the coming out of an LGBTQIA+ people, especially among malay muslim LGBTQIA+ people since they are subjected to double criminalisation from both civil and Syariah laws in Malaysia. Some of the worst outcomes include:

• withdrawal of financial support;

• withdrawal of education;

• removal as beneficiary from last will and testament;

• withdrawal of awarded scholarship or grants.

Sometimes, coming out to family or friends can also be empowering as it is a journey towards LGBTQIA+ acceptance, and it can foster a healthy support system for LGBTQIA+ people.

It is important to note that not all family members or friends react to coming out the same way, be prepared with the different potential outcomes. Coming out is like a double edge sword, it can increase survivors' risks and expose them to further harm and violence. In some instances, it can also acts as survivor's support system and mitigate risks and harm.

However, it is also important to note that being out is not the only solution, even when the survivor is not out, they can still navigate and access support from LGBTQIA+ groups, or even from family members, colleagues and friends.