• Thousands protested in Buenos Aires demanding justice for three young women whose murders were livestreamed.
• The victims, aged 15 and 20, were tortured and killed by a drug gang, police believe.
• Protesters emphasized the ongoing epidemic of femicide in Argentina, demanding government action.

Mass protests unfolded in Buenos Aires as thousands rallied to demand justice for the brutal murders of two young women and a 15-year-old girl, which were livestreamed on social media. The victims, 20-year-olds Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, along with 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez, were abducted on September 19 and found buried five days later. Their killings, linked to a drug gang, have sparked national outrage among citizens advocating for women's safety, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

During the protests, family members held up banners with the names of the victims and shouted slogans like, “Our lives are not disposable!” and “It was a narco-feminicide!” These demonstrations reflect widespread anger at the perceived inaction from the government in handling escalating violence against women in Argentina, according to India Times and CBS News.

Investigators revealed that the young women were lured under false pretenses, believing they were going to a party, only to be tortured and killed as a form of punishment for violating gang rules. A video showing the horrific acts has emerged, with a gang leader declaring, “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me,” a chilling reminder of the influence of drug trafficking in the region, as reported by Al Jazeera and BBC.

As of now, authorities have arrested five suspects in connection with the murders, including three men and two women, while a 20-year-old Peruvian presumed to be the mastermind remains at large. The increasing violence carried out by drug gangs in Argentina, though less common than in neighboring countries, raises alarms about the safety of women in the nation, according to India Times and CBS News.

Femicide, a term used to describe the killing of women due to their gender, has become an ongoing crisis in Argentina, where it is reported that a woman is killed by a man every 36 hours. Activists demand more accountability and legislative action against gender violence as protests highlight the urgent need for protection measures for women, according to BBC and CBS News.