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Original article: Realizan marcha en Valparaíso para exigir justicia por el asesinato de Camila Ponce: familia exige querella del Ministerio de la Mujer por femicidio

March in Valparaíso Demands Justice for Camila Ponce’s Murder: Family Calls for Action from Women’s Ministry Amid Calls for Accountability

This Sunday, April 19, 2026, marked one month since the murder of Camila Ponce, a young woman attacked in Valparaíso by a man who had an active arrest warrant for various offenses and a history of death threats motivated by lesbophobia. Her family and feminist organizations demanded that the State take responsibility and that the Ministry of Women file a complaint for femicide.

During the gathering, Camila’s father, David Ponce, stated: “We have come together to demand that the State assumes its responsibility for the failures that allowed this individual to remain free and kill again. Furthermore, we denounce that the Ministry of Women has not participated in the process nor filed a complaint; we went to Santiago to urge them to act, but to date, they have done nothing.”

Approximately 100 individuals gathered in downtown Valparaíso and marched with signs, slogans, and candles in memory of Camila. Family members, friends, student organizations, feminist collectives, sexual diversity groups, and local community members mobilized to demand justice and raise awareness about the violence affecting women and LGBTIQ+ individuals.

The family’s lawyer, Pedro Delgado, explained the inconsistencies between the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Women and Gender Equity: “The court and tribunal rejected the complaint filed by the Ministry of Public Security due to lack of active legitimacy; this authority belongs to the Ministry of Women. Personally, Judith Marín’s appointment and her religious history have impacted the State’s response. The Ministry has not participated, has failed to meet commitments to the family and has claimed to provide support that does not exist, misrepresenting the truth. This confirms our concerns about their suitability. In my view, these omissions and contradictions can be explained by positions and backgrounds of religious fanaticism.”

Carla Ahumada, spokesperson for the Feminist Coordinator 8 de Marzo in Valparaíso, stated that “the crime against Camila cannot be understood as an isolated incident, but rather as part of a web of structural violence that particularly affects women and individuals of diverse sexual and gender identities.”

Ángel Rojas from Cegesex PUCV affirmed: “We are deeply convinced that Camila was not only killed for being a woman, but also for being a lesbian. Today, a dangerous precedent is set: under this government, the murder of women and sexual dissidents is permitted, and these crimes remain in total impunity due to the silence of institutions and the State itself.”

Camila’s mother, Katherine Arriagada, called for solidarity: “We gather to demand justice with a gender perspective regarding this femicide that has shaken our family and the community. We request your support in a cause that should be universal, as it affects us all. From a deeply humanitarian standpoint, we ask you to join us in seeking justice for my daughter.”

The family announced they would file a complaint for obstruction of the investigation on Friday, April 24, at 11:00 A.M. at the Viña del Mar Guarantee Court and called for accompaniment at this hearing.

*Featured image: Diario La Región.

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