Mary Luz Pérez Camaño was a member of community development organisation Mujeres Siembra, where she coordinated women’s agricultural projects which aimed to provide economic support and food security to low-income communities, in El Bagre, Antioquia. Mary Luz also had a small farm where she grew vegetables and raised chickens.
On 13 October, 2020, Mary Luz was returning home after delivering an order of chickens to a local shop when she was intercepted by armed men who shot her dead. There is no record of her having received threats previously.
The governor in charge of Antioquia, Luis Fernando Suárez, condemned the killing and stated that, although homicides have decreased in Bajo Cauca, the presence of armed groups continues.
“Today we have a 20% reduction in homicides but we recognise that in Bajo Cauca there is ongoing activity by members of Los Caparros, Clan del Golfo, ELN and remnants of the Farc. It is an area plagued by systemic violence”, asserted the governor.
Between January and August 2020, 95 women were murdered in Antioquia.