Luisa Ávila Henao

Luisa Ávila was 23 years old, had been an activist for 10 years in defense of the rights of the LGBTI community. She also collaborated with the Women’s Office of Buga municipality, Valle del Cauca.

On 26 July 2020, Luisa left her brother’s house and was not seen again. She was missing for eight days and on 3 August, 2020, her body was found dumped in a drainage canal near the Judicial District prison in the municipality of Buga, with obvious signs of torture.

According to reports received Luisa had not received any threats prior to her murder.

Alexánder Quinteros, an activist in the LGTBI community added that “Luisa was a very affectionate girl who had to go through very tough moments in her life, but we never imagined that it would end this way.”

 


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Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Valle del Cauca

Sex1:Trans woman

Age:23

Date of Killing:03/08/2020

Previous Threats:No

Gender component to killing:Killing preceded by identity-based verbal assault or harassment including threats

Type of Work:Community leader

Organisation:Comunidad LGBTI y oficina de la mujer del municipio

Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:ESC Rights

Sector Detail:LGBTI, Minority Rights, Transgender rights

More information:Front Line Defenders

1This database records an individual's chosen gender identity. If they do not self-identify as male or female they can use the option of recording other/neither or use the term NBGI (non binary gender identity).