The needs of child survivors are myriad.
Geraldina Guerra, the director of the human rights group Fundacion ALDEA, explained that femicide can have endless repercussions on a child’s life, from their education to their ability to form relationships.
“A femicide doesn’t affect just one part of your life. It affects every part of it,” she said.
One 2019 study from Chile’s Diego Portales University found mental health disorders, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress, were common among the children of femicide victims.
According to the study, 90 percent of participants showed symptoms of depression.
There were also financial ramifications to consider. A 2024 study from Fundacion ALDEA and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) examined 76 cases of children who lost a parent to femicide in Ecuador.
They found that 72 percent of the families caring for those children reported that their income was insufficient to cover basic needs like food and healthcare.
Advocates also point to the costs associated with the loss of a parent, like funeral arrangements and legal support for custody cases or criminal proceedings.
Some critics initially argued that the bill should be expanded to include all children who lost parents to homicide. But the bill that ultimately passed Colombia’s Congress in April retained its focus on femicide.
The legislation will provide support to minors who lose a parent to femicide until the age of 18. Children who pursue higher education or who are disabled will remain eligible for benefits until the age of 25. It also offers funding for funerals and free access to mental health programmes.
The bill now heads to the desk of President Gustavo Petro, where it is expected to be signed into law.
When the law comes into effect, Ramirez said that she plans to enroll in a university to continue her education in tourism studies. She said she owes her strength to her mother.
“My mother practically made me in her image,” said Ramirez. “I learned a lot of things from my mother that now I can offer to others.”