In February this year, 37-year old Colombian, Juliana Bonilla Herrera was violently murdered by her neighbour, a convicted rapist being rehabilitated in the flat next door.
In the days and months after the death, Juliana became a symbol for Latin American feminists in New Zealand – her brutal killing sparked gatherings, discussions and activism from within the community desperately seeking answers and responses to violence against women in New Zealand.
Photo: RNZ
Last week, to mark the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November, a large group of Latin American women gathered near Auckland's Victoria Park.
Alejandra Perez, Alejandra Jaramillo and Juanita Rojas spoke to Kadambari Raghukumar about the issues their community faces and why they think New Zealand needs to recognize femicide.
Alejandra Jaramillo and Alejandra Perez of Latin Feminist Collective and Sorola, two organizations marking International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women in Auckland Photo: RNZ
Femicide in general terms refers to the killing of women because of their gender, at the hands of men, most often motivated by revenge or entitlement over women's lives and bodies.
In Latin America, femicide kills approximately 4000 women in each year but here in New Zealand it's difficult to estimate what that figure could be – it’s not a category of its own.
Cards with helpline info being distributed to mark International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women in Auckland. Photo: RNZ
According to the New Zealand Family Violence Death Review Committee, from 2008 to 2018 125 women were killed by their partners. Most are classified as homicide - a person killing another; but what activists like Alejandra want is a recognition of femicide.
Listen to the full interview on Voices this week:
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