Nelson Abel Ramos was a hair stylist in the zone 4 of Chiquimula, southern Guatemala. According to neighbours and relatives, she had no quarrels with anyone. He was just a member of OTRANS-Reinas de la Noche, an organization that advocates for the rights of the transgender community in Guatemala.

Her dead body was found partially covered with a sack and tied to a minibus in the neighbourhood of San Pedrito in the early hours of Saturday, September 22.

The 25-year-old showed several concussions and bruises in other parts of his body that possibly caused his death, however, the results of the formal investigation of the crime are still unknown.

OTRANS, is one of the NGOs, working on a Gender Identity bill in Guatemala that, if approved, would help eradicate violence and discrimination against the transgender population in that country, by formally recognizing their gender identity.

According to the NGO Oasis Guatemala — which advocates for equal rights and health for members of the LGBTI community — in 2018 alone 22 members of this population were killed and 17 so far in 2019. They call these “hate crimes” and demand measures by the government to prevent them from keep on happening with impunity.

The majority of these cases and aggression against the members of the LGBTI community do not see progress in the Prosecutor’s Office nor the courts.