22 Towards the Effective Protection of LGBTI Persons Deprived of Liberty their liberty are more likely to have been sexually victimised, reported mental health problems, experienced solitary confinement, and been subjected to sanctions. While deprived of liberty — and in prisons in particular — LGBTI persons report the highest rate of sexual victimisation, including rape, as compared to other groups such as younger detainees, victims of previous sexual abuse, persons with disabilities, or first-time offenders. Data on intersex persons in detention settings are generally — if at all available — scarce, which explains why this guide features less information about intersex as compared to lesbians, gays, or trans persons. Information regarding violence targeting bisexual persons also tends to be less documented.8 Monitoring bodies, thanks to their access to first-hand information, their independence, and the trust they often obtain from detainees, can play a crucial role in shedding light on the situation of LGBTI persons deprived of liberty and in finding ways to improve it. 1. “LGBTI”: a heterogeneous group, but a common pattern of abuse LGBTI persons do not form a homogenous group. “LGBTI” is an acronym commonly used for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex” persons. Sometimes the acronym is modified to account for nuances and diversities, such as “Q” for “queer” or “questioning”. It may therefore seem arbitrary or inappropriate to refer to “LGBTI” persons as a group, and some LGBTI persons do not identify with the acronym, rejecting its labels and associated narratives. For instance, some men who have sex with men or women who have sex with women do not identify as “gay” or “lesbian”. In the public health discourse in particular, other terminologies are sometimes preferred, such as “MSM” (men having sex with men) or “WSW” (women having sex with women). There is no consensus regarding what it means to “be” L, G, B, T, or I, and no person’s identity can be reduced to one single characteristic. Moreover, these terms and concepts are evolving rapidly, and it must be acknowledged that often no definitive consensus is reached on certain concepts. It is therefore im- Report of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, A/HRC/38/43, 11 May 2018, para. 46, p. 11 8