On 26 February 2019, Liliana Holguín, a 40-year-old woman belonging to the Mesa LGBTI de Caucasia, was murdered while riding a motorcycle with her nephew. They were attacked when two men on a motor cycle pulled up alongside them and opened fire repeatedly, killing both instantly.

Liliana was a motorcycle taxi driver and well known human rights activist who supported training activities, as well as leading actions against forced displacement and in favour of human rights.

Wilson Castañeda, director of Caribe Afirmativo stated that they have repeatedly warned the authorities about the violence that exists against LGBTI persons in the municipality. “With the assassination of Liliana there are now eight LGBTI leaders and activists who have been murdered in the municipality since 2018, which is in effect a campaign of extermination being waged against the LGBTI community”.

“In the case of Liliana, she was a visible leader in her community who, apart from being part of the LGBTI committee, attended empowerment workshops and who as far as he knew had never received threats for this work”.