Twenty-six years after she was disfigured in an acid attack in Bogotá, María Consuelo Córdoba had an emotional meeting this week with Arturo Calle, one of Colombia’s best-known businessmen, famous for founding the country’s largest menswear retail chain. Calle learned of Córdoba’s story through local media and reached out to offer his support.
According to reports from Bogotá, Calle has committed to donating a house to Córdoba, along with a fixed monthly payment intended to cover her basic living expenses. The gesture is meant to give her long-term financial stability after decades of struggling with the physical and emotional aftermath of the attack.
Córdoba’s ordeal drew renewed public attention earlier this year when she revealed she had requested euthanasia due to her suffering, only to later change her mind. Colombia is one of the few countries in Latin America where euthanasia is legally permitted under strict medical guidelines. Instead of proceeding with that request, she announced she would undergo additional reconstructive surgeries, saying she felt hopeful about her future.
The meeting between Córdoba and Calle has moved many Colombians online, highlighting both the lasting damage caused by acid attacks — a form of gender-based violence that remains a serious problem in the country — and the power of individual acts of solidarity. For the full story, read the original report at El Tiempo.
Source: Conmovedor encuentro entre María Consuelo Córdoba, víctima de ataque con ácido, y Arturo Calle: donará una vivienda (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Alan Stanton, BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).