Transgender people in the US are facing an “epidemic of violence”, as new reports reveal more murders and deaths of trans people have been recorded this year than ever before.

One report found at least 25 transgender people have been killed this year. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) said it had calculated 102 transgender people have been killed over the past five years. Another group, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programmes, has recorded 26 homicides for 2017.

“The epidemic of violence against transgender people is an urgent crisis that demands the nation’s immediate attention,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

“The unique and tragic stories featured in this report reflect the obstacles that many transgender Americans - especially trans women of colour - face in their daily lives. It is crucial that we know these stories in order to combat the transphobia, misogyny and racism fuelling this violence so that we can end this epidemic before it takes any more lives.”

The escalating violence against transgender people is something that campaigners have been drawing attention to over the last few years. Activists say it is unclear whether the increase is a backlash to an increase in news reports about high profile transgender people such as Caitlyn Jenner and Chelsea Manning.

Summer camp for transgender children in California

Activists say police frequently have little enthusiasm for investigating attacks on transgender people.The Associated Press said that both groups which released totals have warned their counts may be incomplete because transgender victims are sometimes misidentified in police and news reports.

In some cases, it can take weeks or months for friends and family to publicly clarify the gender identity of a victim who had transitioned from the gender given in initial police accounts of the death.

Transgender in Pakistan Show all 16 1 /16 Transgender in Pakistan Transgender in Pakistan Dancing at Shakeela's party, an event to celebrate a transgender life in middle-age Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Venue staff members watch people dance at Shakeela's party in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Security searches guests as people arrive at Shakeela's party in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Members of the transgender community dance at Shakeela's party in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Shakeela, a member of the transgender community, works in the kitchen at home in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Transgender in Pakistan 'It's the first time a transgender party has been held openly,' says activist Farzana Jan Transgender in Pakistan Farzana Jan, a member of the transgender community, poses for a photographer ahead of Shakeela's party in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Guests at Shakeela's party Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Money thrown by the guests is used by people to help them start a new business or project Transgender in Pakistan Rani smiles from behind her make-up as she prepares for the party Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Shakeela resting at her home in Peshawar Reuters Transgender in Pakistan A photo hangs on the wall in the home of members of the transgender community in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Make up lies on the floor as members of the transgender community prepare for Shakeela's party in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Transgender in Pakistan A guest counts money she plans to throw at Shakeela's party Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Bubbly helps Shakeela with her dress as members of her own family watch on Reuters Transgender in Pakistan Chahat, a member of the transgender community, prepares for Shakeela's party in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters

The HRC report said most states do not have laws prohibiting discrimination against transgender people.

“Indeed, in many states, anti-transgender bias is ingrained and systematically enforced in nearly all aspects of life, including in laws and government agencies, schools, housing, health care and employment,” it said.

The report was issued ahead of Monday’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance observations that mark hundreds of transgender people killed worldwide each year.

Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999.

“I really didn’t expect it to go very far at all and was extremely surprised to see, and still am every time, how large the project has become, how large the event has grown,” she told NBC.