María Yolanda Maturana

On the 02 February 2018, social leader and environmentalist Yolanda Maturana was found dead in her house in Pueblo Rico, located on the border between the departments of Risaralda and Chocó. She had been shot dead by hooded and armed gunmen who broke into her home.

Yolanda was the leader of an organization called “Asociación de amigos de la flora y la fauna en Risaralda” and  was known for her work against illegal mining and the contamination of water sources in the area.

On 20 February Luis Alfonso Pino Bonilla was arrested as the alleged intellectual author and perpetrator of the killing of Yolanda. Evidence found in his house linked him directly to the killing which it is believed was motivated by his fear that she would expose his involvement in a murder which had taken place some years earlier.


If you would like to provide a personal recollection, please email us at: HRDMemorial@frontlinedefenders.org

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Risaralda

Nickname:no information

Sex1:Female

Age:no information

Date of Killing:02/02/2018

Previous Threats:Yes

Type of Work:Social leader

Organisation:Asociacion de Amigos de la flora y la fauna en Risaralda

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

Sector Detail:Environmental Rights, Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Land 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).