By Natalia Rueda 
The murder of Diana Carolina Serna has shocked Colombia and has put the serious problem of feminicide in the country back on the table. Serna, 37, was brutally murdered by her ex-partner in the streets of La Unión, Valle del Cauca, on January 22, becoming one more victim in a long list of women who have lost their lives at the hands of their partners or ex couples in Colombia.
The crime was captured on a security camera and that quickly spread on social networks, showing Serna running for her life while her ex-partner chased her with a machete. The perpetrator, Hernando de Jesús Suárez Hernández, had been released from prison on a 72-hour permit and now faces charges of femicide. It is reported that he sought out Serna, hoping to convince her to return to him. When she refused, an argument ensued, and the man took out a machete, which he used to fatally wound her.
What makes this case even more enraging is that Serna’s death could have been prevented. The assailant had a history of violence against women, having previously been convicted of assaulting and threatening another woman. This fact only highlights the need for stricter measures to be taken against perpetrators of gender-based violence.
Women’s rights activists and organizations have been calling for action for years, demanding stricter laws and more resources for prevention and support for victims. However, their pleas seem to fall on deaf ears as the country continues to grapple with the devastating effects of gender violence.
According to the Colombian Observatory of Femicides, 530 femicides were recorded in the country in 2023, with 50 of them occurring in Valle del Cauca. The brutal and senseless murder of Diana Carolina Serna is a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety and equality of women in Colombia.