LGBTIQ+ Defenders Face Rising Killings in Colombia and Mexico

A report by Programa Somos Defensores documents 49 assassinations of LGBTIQ+ human‑rights defenders in Colombia between 2020 and 2024, indicating a systematic and selective pattern of violence. The killings rose sharply after a brief dip, reaching 14 deaths in 2024, the highest annual total in the period. Victims included 28 LGBTIQ+ leaders, community and cultural figures, as well as Afro‑descendant, indigenous and trade‑union leaders.

In Mexico’s Guerrero state, the Frente Estatal Guerrero Diverso says three trans women have been murdered in 2026, including Alexa Valadéz in Iguala on 30 July. Activists criticize the state prosecutor and Congress for inadequate response and the lack of a specific transfeminicide law, despite recent recognition of trans identity. The group notes that Guerrero remains one of the most dangerous Mexican states for LGBTIQ+ people, with six killings reported so far this year.