Almost two years after the sentence, Judge Casas's arguments seem insufficient. Despite Ruiz's constant presence in all hearings, it cannot be ignored that he remains an aggressor, both in potential and in practice, representing a danger to Paloma and other women. On this March 8, Luciana will participate in the march called in Bahía Blanca, carrying signs with the image of her daughter's aggressor.
In June, a month after Ruiz was declared guilty, Judge Eugenio Casas rejected the request for imprisonment made by the prosecution, arguing that if the accused attended the trial freely, he should also await the sentence in freedom. However, the final sentence has not yet arrived, and Paloma and her mother have lived in fear for more than two years, as the suffering began much earlier.
In light of the possibility that the aggressor may request house arrest, Luciana expresses her desire for him to pay for his crimes. Although they have insisted several times, the Justice system has refused to detain Ruiz on five occasions. While the defense lawyers continue to appeal the sentence, Judge Casas refuses to impose preventive detention.
"We filed the first complaint in January 2020," Luciana recalls, detailing that there were four cases of sexual abuse: two when Paloma was 11 years old and two more when she was 15. Luciana fears that the aggressor will continue to prolong his impunity, worsening the quality of life for both of them.
The context of impunity is worsened by the revictimization of Paloma at the hands of the Justice system, ensuring that the aggressor remains free and continues to live near them. Despite being declared guilty in 2023, Ruiz has never been in prison and continues to threaten mother and daughter.
Luciana highlights the importance of raising awareness in these cases and the need to make the situation visible, emphasizing that it is vital for the aggressor to be detained so that her daughter can begin to heal. While impunity persists, the struggle for justice continues amid a political climate that fosters distrust towards complainants and promotes revictimization.
