By Natalia Rueda 
The femicide of Stefanny Barranco Oquendo on May 29th at the Santafé Shopping Mall in Bogotá has caused great indignation in society. Stefanny, a mother of two, was brutally attacked with a knife by her ex-partner while she was working in one of the mall’s stores. Despite her desperate attempts to defend herself, the severity of her injuries caused her death at the scene.
The murderer, identified as Iván José de la Rosa, tried to take his own life after assaulting Stefany. He was captured by the authorities and taken to a clinic for medical attention.
In an interview with Caracol Radio, a cousin of Steffany’s revealed that the couple had been together for 12 years and that three days before the femicide, they had had a serious argument in which he had destroyed all of her clothes. Faced with this situation, the victim had decided to end the relationship and move with her children to a friend’s house.
This unfortunate fact highlights the serious problem of gender violence in Colombia, where femicides are a sad daily reality. Only in the first five months of 2024, more than 20 femicides have been reported in the country’s capital.
Authorities revealed that Barranco had not previously reported threats from her ex-partner and had no protection measures in place. This reflects the difficult situation faced by many women in Colombia, who live in constant fear of denouncing their abusers for fear of reprisals. It is essential that there is greater attention and support for women who report situations of violence, as well as a more rigorous implementation of protection measures for victims.