Bolivia registers 57 femicides this year; two in the last week

Bolivia is grappling with a persistent wave of extreme violence against women, as evidenced by the 57 femicides recorded this year up to August 21. The Attorney General's Office reported that two of these tragic incidents occurred within the last seven days, underscoring the urgent need to address this crisis.

The department of La Paz has the highest number of cases, with 19 victims, followed by Santa Cruz with 11. Cochabamba has recorded eight cases, and Oruro also reports eight. Other departments with femicides include Potosí (four), Chuquisaca (three), Tarija (two), and the Amazonian regions of Pando and Beni, each with one case.

According to Yerko Sergio Fajardo, the senior prosecutor for Life and Persons, perpetrators have been identified in 98% of these cases. Many are in preventive detention, and 11 individuals have already received sentences. However, Fajardo emphasized that this reality demands coordinated responses from institutions, families, and society as a whole.

The most recent case involved a 27-year-old physical education teacher in a rural municipality in Potosí, found dead in her home on Thursday with signs of violence. Her ex-partner is the primary suspect and is being sought by security forces. Another incident on Tuesday in Oruro saw a 36-year-old woman and her 35-year-old ex-partner die when he detonated an explosive device after an argument, according to the Public Ministry.

Beyond femicides, the Public Ministry registered 24,890 cases under the Law for Guaranteeing Women a Life Free from Violence (Law 348) between January 1 and July 31. Of these, 18,059 were domestic violence complaints. Law 348 mandates a 30-year prison sentence without parole for femicide, the maximum penalty in Bolivia. Despite this, feminist organizations have long argued that the law's full implementation is hampered by a lack of budget and adequate personnel. They also warn of disinformation campaigns from conservative sectors seeking to repeal Law 348.

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This is a reality that demands responses articulated from the institutions, the families, and society as a whole.