Dr Claudia Stoicescu is a social epidemiologist and policy analyst with expertise in HIV, gender-based violence, substance use and drug policy. She is passionate about participatory community-based research and addressing the inequities faced by underserved groups affected by HIV and substance use.

Transwomen face pervasive gender-based violence (GBV) and human rights abuses. Using community-based participatory methods, an academic-community collaboration comprising Monash University Indonesia, Community Legal Aid Institute, Indonesia Transgender Network, Sanggar Swara and Kebaya Foundation co-designed and adapted Transgender Women Initiating New Goals of Safety (T-WINGS) a brief digital intervention to address GBV and HIV risks and improve access to justice, social support, and healthcare including harm reduction and gender-affirming care, for transwomen in Indonesia.

We conducted formative qualitative research with 20 transwomen and 24 service providers to assess community needs and inform a pilot wait-list randomized controlled trial of T-WINGS among 200+ transwomen (trial ongoing, baseline results available February 2025). A Community Action and Accountability Board comprising transwomen and legal experts co-designed the intervention and guided the adaptation. A visual deconstruction/reconstruction tool adapted from Wu (2022) integrated with focus group discussions and community consultations, steered intervention design and adaptation.

Structural factors such as criminalization of sex work, drug use, LGBTQI+ identities, and policies prohibiting gender-affirming care, contribute to GBV and human rights abuses against transwomen. Guided by qualitative findings, we co-developed a "know your rights" module in addition to the T-WINGS core intervention components. This enables transwomen to recognize different forms of GBV, develop self-efficacy, create safety plans, and enhance social support and service linkages. The participatory approach resulted in a culturally appropriate, tablet-based intervention that allows transgender-led organizations to conduct GBV surveillance, identify at-risk individuals, and reduce GBV through safety planning, support, and service referrals.

T-WINGS was co-developed using participatory methods, ensuring its cultural relevance and sustainability. This approach promotes community empowerment, ownership and long-term impact, aiming to reduce GBV, discrimination and persecution and improve health and well-being among transwomen in Indonesia. Lessons are relevant for tailoring promising interventions for new target populations facing intersecting risks in low-resource settings.