The murder of Argentinean Maria Coni, 22, and Marina Menegazzo, 21, has prompted women [and men] across the globe to publicly defend their decision of travelling solo. This follows the murder of two Australian surfers, Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman, in Mexico last year.
#ViajoSola — Spanish for “I travel alone” — has taken over the Twitterverse, with users standing against victim blaming and their right to travel safely.
Backpacking and solo travelling remains a popular rite of passage among university students and young adults.
Ninety per cent UOW students surveyed today have either travelled solo or with another companion, with 80 per cent feeling safe throughout the duration of their trip.
“María and Marina didn’t die because they weren’t accompanied by a man, they passed because they were brutally murdered by people who don’t value life,” writer Kate Dwyer said.
Audio: Here For You (Festival Anthem), copyright free