TikTok Influencer Murdered During Live Stream: A Rise in Femicide

Valeria Marquez's murder is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader trend of increasing violence against women in Mexico. According to Amnesty International, in 2020, a quarter of female killings in Mexico were investigated as femicides, with cases reported in each of Mexico’s 32 states. Last year alone, there were 847 reported cases of femicide nationwide, and 162 in the first three months of this year.

Just days before Marquez's death, a mayoral candidate in Veracruz was also shot dead during a live stream, along with three other people, illustrating the pervasive nature of violence in Mexican society. Human Rights Watch Americas Director Juanita Goebertus notes that the main challenge is increasing authorities’ capacity to investigate and protect witnesses and victims.

The lack of effective investigation and prosecution of these crimes further exacerbates the problem. Goebertus points out that in 2022, while around 4,000 women were killed, the rate of cases that lead to a verdict is only around 67%. This impunity emboldens perpetrators and undermines public trust in the justice system.

Femicide is the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. It is often rooted in systemic inequality and discrimination.

While there are laws and initiatives in place, rights groups argue that Mexico's response to homicides, in general, is severely lacking, with too few investigations leading to prosecution.

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