Two young sisters, aged 12 and 3, have found a new home and guardian following a recent family tragedy. A court order placed them under the care of their 20-year-old aunt. This young woman is their mother’s sister.
Their mother, a 28-year-old police officer, died by suicide last Friday night in Pocitos. She was found with her baby in her arms. The baby was not one of the two daughters now in the aunt’s care.
The two girls currently live with their 20-year-old aunt. Another 50-year-old family member also lives in the same house. Both the Ministry of Interior and the National Institute for Children and Adolescents of Uruguay (INAU) are working together. They are planning ways to offer support to the children and their new guardian.
Claudia Romero, who leads INAU, spoke out on Tuesday about these kinds of events. She described a widespread “situation of alarm.” Romero shared a strong feeling, saying, “One has the sensation of being in a minefield.” She warned that more tragedies could happen if people do not work on prevention. This means carefully watching for signs of trouble and acting quickly.
Romero stressed the need for new plans. She pointed out that many current systems are simply too old. They do not fit the types of violence seen today. “We are reviewing those processes and protocols,” Romero explained. She added that it is vital to “innovate with some of the procedures” to protect vulnerable individuals.