Roxy was a social leader and LGBTIQ+ activist recognised for her work as a human rights defender.
In the early hours of Thursday, September 17, the murder of Roxxy Vanessa Astaíza, a trans social leader and LGBTIQ+ activist recognized for her work as a human rights defender, was confirmed. The young woman was murdered in Popayán, Cauca, with a bladed weapon - reportedly during a fight. Despite being taken to a hospital, she died minutes later due to the severity of her injuries.
Astaiza was a renowned LGBTIQ+ leader and member of the Mariposas Negras collective, an organization of trans women fighting against violence in the department of Cauca. Her work had made her a respected figure within activism for the rights of sexual and gender minorities in the region.
The activist was a candidate for the Cauca Departmental Advisory Council for Women for the period 2026-2029, an electoral process currently being carried out by the Cauca Governorate. Her political participation represented a significant step forward in the inclusion of diverse voices in regional decision-making spaces.
Authorities indicated that the events are under investigation and that a possible hypothesis is a suspected transfemicide.
The alleged perpetrator of the crime was captured. However, there are no further details about his identity or the motive for the murder.
