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Nataly Ramos is a 25-year-old trans woman and sex worker, originally from El Salvador but a resident of Guatemala since childhood. On July 22, she was the victim of an attempted transfemicide by a security guard who was protecting a candy delivery truck. The incident occurred in broad daylight, at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 1st Street, in the La Cruz neighborhood of Amatitlán, a municipality located 27 kilometers south of Guatemala City. The guard was accompanied by the truck driver and two assistants.

Nataly was walking by with a friend after buying some food when one of the assistants caught the attention of the security guard and began mocking them with transphobic insults. While they laughed at both of them, Nataly mustered her courage, turned around, and went back to ask them why they were laughing at them. “I told them to be serious if they were working ” Nataly told Presentes.

One of the delivery assistants pushed Nataly for no reason, and she tried to defend herself before deciding to leave for her safety. But as she continued on her way, the security guard began to insult her in a very aggressive manner.

Wounded and without means to live

Returning to confront the security guard nearly cost Nataly her life. He pointed a 12-gauge shotgun at her and, without saying a word, fired at point-blank range from less than two meters away. Realizing she was wounded, she tried to take a few steps back but then fainted. Volunteer firefighters from the 29th Company responded to the emergency and transported Nataly to the Amatitlán National Hospital.

Although she was discharged from the hospital the day of the attack, her diagnosis is a pellet wound in the abdominal region, and she must remain on bed rest. This means that Nataly cannot go to work and has lost the meager income she had due to the pandemic and now because of the injury inflicted by the security guard.

On July 24, Nataly went to the Public Prosecutor's Office to file a criminal complaint. Official sources told Presentes that they have already identified the security guard.

The media outlets that reported the story referred to Nataly using male pronouns and revealed her birth name.

Five trans women murdered since the pandemic

Henry España of the Office of the Ombudsman for Sexual Diversity told this news outlet that they learned of the incident through a news report and verified the victim's condition by phone with the hospital. The Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that the National Civil Police were involved in the case, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Human Rights Ombudsman's Office and the Office of the Ombudsman for Sexual Diversity, in a statement, recommend that the Public Prosecutor's Office conduct the necessary investigations, taking into account the victim's gender identity at all times. They also recommend that the media address transgender people using appropriate language to avoid reinforcing prejudices and stereotypes.

Justice and reparation

The organization Otrans Reinas de la Noche joined the complaint and will provide legal support to Nataly so that this case is clarified and does not go unpunished.

“We urgently call on the Public Prosecutor's Office to follow up on this regrettable case and seek justice and reparations for the victim of this savage, hateful act,” the statement said.

For its part, the Observatory for Violent Deaths of the National Diversity Network stated in a press release that at least 5 trans women have been murdered during the contingency and 10 have been victims of violence.

On May 4, 2017, the proposed law 5278 “Law to punish hate crimes” was presented to the plenary session of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala and its Committee on Legislation and Constitutional Matters. It was introduced by Representative Sandra Morán, the first openly lesbian legislator (2016-2019 term). However, the initiative has not received a favorable response.