Sandra Cabrera
Sandra Cabrera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 27 October 1970 |
| Died | 27 January 2004 (aged 33) |
| Cause of death | shot |
| Nationality | Argentina |
| Known for | being killed after campaigning for sex workers |
| Children | one |
Sandra Cabrera (27 October 1970 – 27 January 2004) was an Argentinian trade unionist who represented sex workers. She was killed in 2004 following her refusal to withdraw complaints regarding police corruption and her sex workers' rights.
Life
Cabrera was born in San Juan, Argentina[1] in 1970.
In 1994 she settled in Rosario and she started a trade union known as AMMAR (Association of Women Prostitutes of Argentina). Her militancy was characterized by the new union's struggle for the rights of sex workers and their allegations of police corruption.[1] She received threats of violence towards both her and her daughter Macarena.
From the union also she fought for recognition of their legal status by the state. She also worked preventing the spread of AIDS.
Cabrera continued denouncing cases of corruption to justice and police authorities.
Threats and murder
In November 2003, Cabrera reported threats against her and her daughter to the sectional Rosario of the Association of State Workers (ATE), union representing public employees. The ATE in turn referred the complaint to the Deputy Attorney General of the Province of Santa Fe, Diego Giuliani, and the chief of staff Security Police Santa Fe, Commissioner Aguilar.
From that time, Cabrera was given police protection at her home but this did not stop the threats. The harassment continued and in December 2003 she was beaten in her home with police custody at the door.[1]
Sandra Cabrera was murdered with a 9mm shot, in the neck, on 27 January 2004.[1] She had been warned to cease her complaints.
Legacy
Following her assassination, several marches were held to demand justice. The marches were attended by many groups including the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.
AMMAR, the organisation that Cabrera led, continued to operate. In 2014 the union's general secretary, Claudia Carranza was still campaigning and welcoming the film by Lucrecia Mastrangelo titled, Sex, dignity and death: Sandra Cabrera, unpunished crime.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Justicia Sandra Cabrera, 27 January 2014, NSWP.org, Retrieved 2 September 2014
- ^ AMMAR remembered Sandra Cabrera, 6 June 2012, redtrasex.org, Retrieved 2 September 2016