Thousands of people have taken part in an anti-femicide protest in Buenos Aires, demanding justice for a girl and two young women who were tortured and murdered in a crime that has shocked Argentina.
The brutal killings of 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez, and 20-year-olds Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, were livestreamed on social media, sparking outrage. Police believe a drug-trafficking gang was responsible, aiming to send a warning to others by broadcasting the crime. As of Friday, authorities arrested five suspects - three men and two women - but the alleged leader, a 20-year-old Peruvian man, remains at large.
According to investigators, the victims were lured into a van under the pretense of heading to a party on September 19. However, authorities contended this was part of a plan to 'punish' them for violating gang rules. Security Minister Javier Alonso revealed that one detainee showed a video of the incident wherein a gang leader allegedly proclaimed: This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me. The bodies of the three victims were discovered buried at a site in southern Buenos Aires five days after they disappeared.
At the demonstration on Saturday, relatives of the victims marched to Parliament demanding justice. Brenda's father, Leonel del Castillo, emphasized the urgent need to protect women, lamenting the brutal treatment of his daughter, which made identification impossible. Meanwhile, relatives expressed their grief and anger, condemning the heinous acts perpetrated against the young women.
In Argentina, statistics reveal a grim reality, with one woman killed by a man every 36 hours, underscoring the critical need for action against gender-based violence.
