Activist Nawar Jimenez Murdered in Colombia Shocks Community

Nawar Jimenez, aka SMILEY!, beloved community leader and outspoken activist, filled any space with her outgoing spirit and infectious energy to dance. Sadly, she was murdered this past January, and the news rattled across Colombia like a wake-up call. The following morning, law enforcement found her body in a roadside ditch. This sad discovery followed…

Liam Avatar

By

Activist Nawar Jimenez Murdered in Colombia Shocks Community

Nawar Jimenez, aka SMILEY!, beloved community leader and outspoken activist, filled any space with her outgoing spirit and infectious energy to dance. Sadly, she was murdered this past January, and the news rattled across Colombia like a wake-up call. The following morning, law enforcement found her body in a roadside ditch. This sad discovery followed closely upon her tear-filled, joyful proclamation of identity at her vocational high school commencement. Jimenez’s killing is a part of a horrifying trend. It just shines a light on the continued violence that our LGBTQ+ folks are facing in this country.

Jimenez is originally from the Montes de Maria region, a historical epicenter of Colombia’s armed conflict. Having lived her entire life immersed in the exacting struggles that had produced her indomitable community and legacy. The area has more recently come completely under the thumb of Clan del Golfo, a massive criminal syndicate. These experiences of violence and instability led to Jimenez’s activism and efforts. This truth made her loss all the more devastating to those who were touched by her life.

Jimenez’s friend Juan Carlos ‘Tito’ Buelvas described their last conversation. He recalled streaming a video with her just days before she passed away. After a recent murder nearby rattled her, she broke down and picked up the phone to call him. She opened up her fears about her physical safety. “Nawar called me up immediately, she was crying… she told me she was very scared after that murder,” Buelvas shared.

A Life Cut Short

Beyond being a colorful local leader and changemaker, Nawar Jimenez had aspirations that made her future brighter than ever. “Nobody wants to do that type of work. Nawar dreamed of a professional career to leave the street behind her,” Buelvas reflected on her aspirations. He pointed out that she imagined herself as an advocate, fighting to get out of the hell that had become her world.

Day of Sara Millerey’s murder, Jimenez’s friend, would be the beginning of a new turning point. Buelvas remembered how this terror swept through their community, as social media and television spread the news and increased the fear. “The day we all learned about Sara, it was all over social media and on television,” he said. This summer, continued violence against LGBTQ+ people has made the shadow over our region feel even longer.

Jimenez’s murder did not escape the notice of enforcement officials. Colombia’s new Ministry of Equity and Equality has opened an investigation into her murder. They have referred the case to a designated office that handles violence connected to sexual orientation and gender identity. The hope for this investigation is to find out what happened during Jimenez’s tragic death. It represents justice for her and all the other victims–including Millerey.

A Community in Fear

The Montes de Maria region has endured decades of violence between paramilitaries, guerillas, and the Colombian military. This persistent violence fosters a culture of intimidation, chilling those who dare to fight for justice. People like Camilo, who lives in the community, felt similarly. “No one said anything. Because of fear. Because I know you. Because you live in my area and if you open your mouth here, I look at those around you,” he remarked about the pervasive atmosphere of intimidation.

The threats against this community have only escalated. This intensification coincides with the rise in strength of criminal groups such as Clan del Golfo. A flyer distributed by the group ominously declared, “All will be military targets. We will not respect ages.” This message further underscores the protection and safety urgently needed by our most vulnerable populations.

Gregorio Henríquez, a Chilean advocate for social justice & urbanism, said that the severity of crimes such as Jimenez’s can drive perilous behavior. “The atrocity of the crime matches the extent to which they aim to transmit a message – the crime is one that people will not forget,” he stated. Henríquez explained that these types of actions are meant to create fear in communities, and that fear is used to further silence opposition and resistance.

The Search for Justice

In response to Jimenez’s murder, local activists and community members have taken a stand and are demanding accountability and reform. As they point out, violence against LGBTQ+ individuals is more than a crime against an individual person. What’s more, it’s an attack on their whole community. While they continue to process their grief, they are looking to turn this horrible tragedy into a centerpiece of a call for justice.

Jonathan Silva, an advocate for social change and member of Red de Defensores, summarized the significance of this violence in Colombia’s broader context. “Colombia is a very difficult country. Colombia is a country that first needs to be healed from the ground up and there needs to be real peace for all people. That is our position,” he said. Silva reiterated that real justice goes beyond single cases—it’s a matter of tackling the systemic injustices that have long ravaged marginalized communities.

Those investigations into Jimenez’s death and others like hers are still continuing. The demand for justice resonates strongly across Colombia. The community stands united in their demand for change, echoing the silent slogan: “nuestra existencia es resistencia,” or “our existence is resistance.”

Liam Avatar