Monick Martínez
Murdered on Saturday, July 25, 2020
She was 44 years old
Monick was a lawyer; she was born in the city of Ojojona in Honduras.
Monick underwent a gender transition. The average lifespan of trans women in Latin America is 35 years, and indeed Monick has encountered many obstacles and has endured violence because of her gender identity. Nevertheless, she has had many personal and professional accomplishments and was known as a sociable, family-oriented, empathetic, and happy woman.
On Saturday, July 25th, 2020, the local police were alerted to a violent incident and found Monick's body in the bathroom of her home. Signs of violence on the body indicated that she was attacked and murdered with a knife.
Monick was murdered by her intimate partner. They had been in a relationship for several years, and although the law in Honduras does not recognize LGBT marriage, the two took each other’s last name and held an alternative ceremony in 2019.
Monick’s partner was convicted and sentenced to 11 years and 9 months in prison for murder.
The law in Honduras states that murder on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation is considered an aggravated murder. However, this was not implemented in the trial of the man responsible for Monick's violent death as a trans woman.
Courtesy of the family of Monick Martínez