El sectarismo en Cuenca y su influencia en el femicidio, aplicado a los casos de Cristina Palacio y Maribel Pinto

Abstract

This research investigates manifestations of sectarianism in Cuenca and its influence on femicide cases, with a specific focus on the deaths of Cristina Palacio and Maribel Pinto as case studies from sociological and gender-based perspectives. The objective is to comprehend how cultural, religious, and social stereotypes perpetuate sectarianism and obscure gender-based violence. The study begins with an examination of sectarianism as a form of social exclusion, linked to membership in closed groups, and as expressions of power and inequality between men and women, as well as among women themselves. This research emphasizes the connection between sectarianism, patriarchal culture, and femicide violence viewed from the perspective of Cuenca society. It highlights that addressing femicide requires more than merely the enforcement of penalties; it also demands a transformation of social beliefs that marginalize women and promote inequality. This underscores the importance of reviewing public, educational, and communication policies related to gender-based violence, as well as enhancing the training of judicial actors, social communicators, and the wider community in human rights, feminism, and gender issues —not as an ideology that supersedes judges’ respect for women, but to ensure that cases are presented objectively, grounded in evidence and appropriate legal standards.