At around 8:00 a.m. this Monday, a group of About 15 women gathered in the Plaza de la Ciudadanía, in front of La Moneda. At the scene, they spread out a canvas and some proceeded to Chain yourself to the perimeter bars.
The demonstration, organized by the Chilean Network against Violence against Women along with other groups, was carried out on behalf of Katty Hurtado, a woman who in 2021 was sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing her ex-husband. From the organization, they assure that Hurtado “He acted in defense of his life after a new physical and sexual assault by his ex-partner,” which is why they ask President Gabriel Boric to grant him a presidential pardon.
“This (her ex-husband) He used violence for years against Katty Hurtado and the psychological reports confirmed her constant state of fear and tension. An obvious result of a lifetime of sexist violence and that was not taken into account by the investigation of the Public Ministry, nor by the Judiciary at the time of his conviction. “Justice acted without a gender perspective, which resulted in the omission of investigations into the defense thesis,” they accused in a statement.
Besides, Priscila Gonzalez, a member of the Network, maintained that the situation worsened after the conviction, since – he affirms – “Katty was raped” in prison. “The identities of those responsible are not established, but clearly The institution covers them up and also pits other inmates against them so that they attack her.. Katty’s life is in danger. That is why we call on President Boric to pardon Katty immediately,” he added.
As Carabineros confirmed, two people were arrested for the protest: “They were transferred to the unit to adopt the rigorous procedure.”
“They took two companions into custody. We we were at a peaceful demonstration, at the head of La Moneda”, indicated the organization. Furthermore, on their social networks they accused that uniformed officers “harassed” them and that they had fenced off the streets to prevent them from advancing to the police station where the two assistants were arrested.
Through a statement, the Chilean Network against Violence against Women denounced that during the six years that Hurtado has served her sentence, “faced rape and abuse by the Gendarmerie, as well as violence from another inmate on April 14 at the Tocopilla Preventive Detention Center.” In this context, they expressed their “deep discontent at the lack of response from the Ministry of Justice.”
“We have requested support measures for Katty Hurtado, such as her transfer to a Study and Work Center (CET), in addition to the medical and psychological care she urgently requires. The assault that Katty Hurtado suffered by an inmate this year, added to complications in her physical and mental health, makes us fear for her safety and integrity. We consider that the situation demands an immediate response from the authorities to guarantee her well-being,” they noted.
Likewise, they pointed out that They submitted the request for pardon on January 11 of this year, but that they were informed that “reception by the Gendarmerie dates back only to March 19, which represents a delay of two months.” In that period, they say, “Katty Hurtado’s health, both physical and mental, has deteriorated significantly over the years, and we point out the lack of gender focus on the part of the Chilean State when handing down her sentence.”
“That is why We demand that President Gabriel Boric fulfill his commitment to lead a feminist Government and defender of women’s rights, immediately granting a pardon for Katty Hurtado. Katty’s life is at risk and cannot depend on the Executive’s deadlines,” they stressed.
