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Mexico: Impunity rampant in femicide cases

Femicide in Mexico

"Mexico: 7 Femicides Each Day, 63% of Women Face Gender Violence"

Process and Feedback

To create my poem, i used inspiration from images, stories about cases that had to do with femicide, and putting myself in a teenage girls perspective that lives in mexico. I tried making it more as a story than a poem. Not only did i want to express how this is an injustice to women through literature, but i also putted the series of events that happens to girls in mexico in chronological order. I want my audience to see her point of view and really see themselves as this common girl that had no way of knowing that she would be the next victim of femicide.

I read my poem to my 2nd period slect choir class. Due to the fact that we are all girls, this issue affected them more because they could easily relate to it. Overall i recieved positive feedback such as "It was very emotional" and "it was sad but very interesting"

There have been movements that show the need for control over femicide.

#59

http://www.cronicaerratica.com/Reportajes/Arroyo_Navajo_feminicidios_en_ciudad_juarez_con_marchamo_militar.html

“To date, civil society has formally requested the implementation of this mechanism on four different times: On April 30, 2008, given the political conflict in the Triqui region of the state of Oaxaca. - On May 2009, denouncing legal restrictions at the expense of women’s rights in the state of Guanajuato. - On December 8, 2010, due to the context of femicide and impunity in Estado de Mexico. - On January 13, 2012, because of the increasing femicides and disappearances of women.”(Femicide-and-impunity-in-mexico... Many of these events show when the violence against women and the denial against justice for women has been to big to go unnoticed and ignored. Because of outbreaks like these, people have taken noticed and have said something and are waited for there to be some changes to the law referring to femicide.

But perhaps

for the exception

of that one man behind you

with a gun in his hand

ready

to put an end

to your short life

There was once a girl

that had woken up

with dirt on the floor

and cracks on the walls

with her growling stomach

she is forced to get up

and face another cruel day

Imagine a little girl

asking her family members

"where is my mom"

"can i talk to her"

"when will i see her again"

what if that was your daughter

what if that was your sister

what if that was you

As she is stepping outside

waving her family good-bye

she will keep her head high

and be aware of everything that comes by

To your murderer, you will be one more satisfaction

To your enemies, you will be one less disturbance

To your family, you will be a blank space in their heart

To the government, you will only be number 59

Organization making a change

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/mexicos-epidemic-of-missing-and-murdered-women/article25137141/

As she walks to work

she has gotten used to

the whistles and the stares

she starts wondering

if that was her last meal

her last stroll

her last day

You hear a gunshot

your instinct tells you to run

you start running

the fastest you've ran in your entire life

soon, you are trapped

he walks up to you

you start begging for mercy

he grabs you

he drags you away

into an open field

you are full of fear

he hits your head

you see your life flash before your eyes

and you fall unconscious

he dresses you

rapes you

Femicide is a crime that has impacted many women

What exactly started the idea that women should be the victims?

“Mexico formally established a legal framework on the rights of women from 2007, in particular, to ensure the right to live free from violence and discrimination through the adoption of the General Law of Access for Women to a Life Free of Violence (GLAWLFV)”(Femicide-and-impunity-in-mexico...) This organization has made people and official more alert about all the current events on femicide and shows how it is an extreme problem in Mexico. These kind of organizations are what this country needs to get women's voice heard and to take a stand

Once she gets work

she is taking part

of a young cheap labor force

due to her low social standing

she is seen as important

and being abused in every way possible

But knowing that her family depends on her

she stays strong

even with her low pay

she dares not say a word

she will keep going

http://www.womenundersiegeproject.org/conflicts/profile/mexico

And finally

when you are coming back to reality

he shoots you

in your head

in your chest

in your heart

“This type of violence is perpetrated through the discrimination that underlies acts of omission committed by civil servants, the delay in treating cases violence against women, and the masking of the historical truth in cases of femicide. All of this limits access to justice, thus violating women's human rights.” (Femicide in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua.) This violence is illegal and in most cases there is no justice involved. Not only is this discrimination against women, but it has been going around for many years.

you will become

one of the 6 girls

that died that day

you will become

one of the 1221 girls

that died that year

And finally

they are returning home

after a long day

of being harassed

and mistreated

Imagine those girls that do fight back

those that will die with dignity

those that do see value in themselves

even though the government says otherwise

After long day

of being violated of their rights

and being treated

as a defenseless women

But little do they know

that it will only lead them

to a shorter, bloodier death

Some did not even have a chance to go to work

you may have only runned a little late

maybe you were followed and threatend along the way

Either way

If the clock was against you

you would find the door closed

and turned away into the dark night

Femicide is a big problem that is not being treated properly and doesn't have enough attention.

Young girls aren't the only victims

But pregnant women are also being prosecuted

and murdered

with no mercy

shown to them

Ending 2 young lives

ruining the life of a child

and destroying the dream of a mother

As you are returning home

you are roaming the dark streets of Mexico

you are all alone

there isn't a single noise

but your beating heart against your chest

“The Mexican State is accused of failing to investigate and take action on cases of femicide occurring during the past decade, crimes that have been largely ignored by the police and judicial systems. Indeed, the impunity surrounding these cases is one of the principal complaints of the victims' families.”(Femicide cases from Ciudad Juarez...)Femicide has not been taken seriously by police and that is not fair for young girls and their families. Many families have to go through the pain of losing a daughter or sister without receiving proper justice.This a problem because this encourages the unimportance of femicide and helps criminals understand that they will not have to take responsibility for their actions.

Many of femicides victims are young, innocent girls.

Amount of deaths per year and the increment of feminism.

. “Since the passage of NAFTA in 1994, which allows for an economic open door policy between the U.S. and Mexico, Juarez has been filled with factories owned by various multinational corporations. Maquiladoras employ mostly young women, a group they believe to be docile and unlikely of unionizing or striking for more pay.” (Femicidio: femicide made in Mexico.)The beginning of this problem is the discrimination of women. I is not fair that women are viewed as weak and incomparable to men. Once women were viewed as lower class, men received the freedom to do whatever they desire to them, including murder.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/11/opinion/sunday/the-refugees-at-our-door.html

Making a Difference

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a34924/women-dying-each-day-as-femicide-in-mexico-reaches-new-levels/

There may be a possible solution for femicide

“A local NGO called the Citizen's Observatory on Reproductive and Sexual Rights, known as Odyssey, has documented 178 cases of femicide in Puebla since 2013. The group says that these are occurring three times more often today than they did at the turn of the decade.”(Pregnant Women Are the Latest Victims...) There have been so many cases of sexual assault in the past decade. Since the number of femicide cases are increasing, we can assume that the amount of brutalness is too. 178 is just the number of cases documented. Imagine the number of those cases that have not because they are not important or have not been mentioned.

I made a difference by spreading awareness about femicide. Doing research and writing a poem about this issue, made me more aware of the struggles girls my age face in their everyday lives in another country. Not only did it make me thankful that this is not a major problem in the U.S., but it also made me realize that our society world wide is in drastic need for a change. Thanks to the campaigns made against femicide, this issue will soon stop affecting girls in mexico, and i am sure I made approximately 30 other girls have the same goal as me.

https://fnsnews.nmsu.edu/20-years-of-border-femicide/

http://eastfieldnews.com/2015/12/14/femicides-of-juarez/

http://www.eldiariodecoahuila.com.mx/nacional/2012/6/13/hallan-cuerpos-veracruz-299230.html

“The Watchdog Group's mission is to overcome this structural inertia in the Mexican government and contribute to the construction of legal, judicial and cultural spaces that make women safe.... Draw attention to the true scope of the phenomenon of femicide and violence against women that leads to the murder of women and to publicize this reality in the mass media and public opinion... Influence the development of public policy designed to prevent violence through the General Law on Women's Access to a Life Free from Violence... Impact the depth and effectiveness of the provision and imparting of justice to rebuild citizen confidence and the viability of government mechanisms... Decrease institutional violence and governmental and social discrimination against women.”(Femicide in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua.) Not only will this organization find a way to eliminate femicide, but also other problems young women in Mexico face. One of these problems are eliminating other causes that may kill a young women. There is also the enforment of laws protecting young women and decrease violence and discrimination against women.

“The killers have targeted young women--the average age of the victims is 16--who are poor and have little social standing. Many of the victims were part of the young cheap labor force… In other words, the victims were young women who were seen as unimportant to society, and whose deaths have prompted little interest from authorities.” (Femicidio: femicide made in Mexico.) Many of these victims are young girls who just want to help their families make it through the hard times they may be facing. Imagine having to go for work and wondering if you are going to make back home alive and unharmed. It is unfair that these girls are not taken seriously by officials because of their low class in society and have to constantly look behind their backs.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/crime-scene-of-gang-related-crime-her-hands-are-wrapped-in-news-photo/645627687#crime-scene-of-gangrelated-crime-her-hands-are-wrapped-in-paper-bags-picture-id645627687

“Samaí's former boyfriend, Rafael Portillo, has also now been detained, after he reportedly confessed to killing her with a bullet to the head, and later dumping her body in an open field. Local media reported that a text message exchange exists in which he offered 280 dollars for someone to kill her. Portillo, who is married, was having an affair with Samaí when she became pregnant. Friends and family have created the Facebook page Justice for Samaí where they share information on other women who have been disappeared, and provide safety tips.”(Pregnant Women Are the Latest Victims...) In this case, Portillo couldn't even take responsibility for his action sand instead of finding a solution, he ended his girlfriend's life, who was also waiting for a child. Many people find it easy now and days too simply kill someone. How could they not think that if officials are lenient on them, even if they technically ended 2 lives?

Femicide is not technically considered a crime

”Currently, only 13 states have criminalized femicide in their criminal codes. Furthermore, some Criminal Codes consider certain mitigating circumstances to the sanction, such as having committed the murder as a result of a duel or a fight, or the state of violent emotion of the perpetrator, which is often equated with jealousy and infidelity. The legislation considers femicide as an aggravation of murder, not as a crime by itself. In addition, it incorporates circumstances of difficult accreditation.”(Femicide-and-impunity-in-mexico...) Femicide is viewed more as domestic violence. It is not taken as serious as it should. We are dealing with murder and discrimination, not a fight against men and women. Out of 30 states, only 13 as taken a stand femicide. Out of 30 states, only 13 states care enough about women to try to protect them and help them live a life without worry of having their life ended at anytime and anyplace.

Many people have already taken action towards Femicide“

http://security-world.blogspot.com/2015/03/borderland-beat_26.html

http://www.andrewpurcell.net/?p=1263

It is not just one person that has to go through this social discrimination

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=353343&CategoryId=14091

The number of deaths of women are in the thousands

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1526549.stm

The real meaning of Femicide

"In recent years, efforts have been made to document and draw attention to the number of women who have been murdered in Mexico. Six thousand such crimes were committed during Vicente Fox's six-year term, and some 1,088 took place between June 2006 and June 2007 alone.”(Femicide in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua.) These number are obnoxiously high . How can people go through their daily routine when there have so many young women killed and not do anything about it? Imagine more than a thousand deaths per year of young women being victims of femicide. This is a shameful crime in Mexico. Especially because so little is being done about it.

“Feminicide violence is the most extreme form of violence against women. It is a product of the violation of their human rights in the public and private spheres. Placing women at risk and making them defenseless can culminate in attempted murder, homicide or other forms of violent death in girls and women, including accidents, suicides and deaths that could be avoided, neglect and exclusion from development and democracy” (Femicide in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua.) Femicide is brutally harming, by force a young women wit the intention of damaging, or in this cases, killing them. This is a violation of human rights because it makes a women look and feel weaker then they really are. The worst part of all is that the government tries to avoid this problem at all costs.

“Many of these family members and advocates have been threatened by local authorities who do not want their work questioned. In the past two years other actions taken on behalf of the victims of Juarez have included a five-day march from Ciudad Chihuahua to Ciudad Juarez... an action of solidarity uniting advocates from both sides of the border across the international bridge connecting Juarez to El Paso... the occupation of the Chihuahua State capitol by 21 mothers of murdered women... the occupation of the Chihuahua State capitol by 21 mothers of murdered women...Send a donation of any amount to Casa Amiga Juarez to help save lives and end the violence in Juarez.” (Femicidio: femicide made in Mexico.) Many people have taken public actions towards this problem, such as marches, advocates at the border, and taking your opinions to the capital. You can also send a donation to these kinds of organizations and help them spread the word of femicide through their country and beyond.

“Women who arrive even three minutes late for their shifts are turned away into the dark night; as in the case of 20-year-old Claudia Ivette who was later found in a ditch alongside the bodies of eight other women. The meager Juarez police force of 1,200 does little to protect women against the rampant violence and crime in Juarez.” (Femicidio: femicide made in Mexico.)Ivette was only late to work. But you would never suspect that it would cost her, her life. And she wasn't the only one, 8 other women suffered the same punishment. Why would the Government ignore this huge problem in their society? Why bother with police forces if they are not going to help all of their citizens?

One of the many cases of Femicide

“The hearings in Santiago included testimonies from Irma Monreal, Josefina Gonzalez and Benita Monarrez, the mothers of Esmeralda Herrera (who was 14 years old when she disappeared), Claudia Ivette Gonzalez Banda and Laura Berenice Ramos Monarrez (both age 17 when they disappeared). These three girls were all murdered, and their remains were very {difficult to identify. Some of the people who accompanied the mothers at the hearing were Karla Michele Salas and David Pena, the legal representatives of the victims' families and the members of the Asociación Nacional de Abogados Democráticos (National Association of Democratic Lawyers), as well as Alfredo Limas and Sonia Torres, from the Centro para el Desarrollo Integral de la Mujer (CEDIMAC, Center for Women's Comprehensive Development) in Ciudad Juarez. However, the mothers of the three murdered girl's argue that the Mexican State "never carried out a good investigation," and that eight years after the girls disappeared, "they're all rights are still being violated, including the right to due process." At the end of the public hearings, the three mothers stated that what they most want is justice, an end to impunity and full respect for women's right to live free from violence.” (Femicide cases from Ciudad Juarez..)Femicide was the reason why these three young girls were killed. The mothers of these girls are seeking justice for their daughters but are having difficulties achieving it. Even after the government has received all the evidence needed to prove the violation of rights against women, the government still will not fight for the safety of their female citizens.

Protesting for a change

Number of deaths of women are not dropping

“According to figures compiled by the National Center Against Femicide, between 2007 and 2008 there were 1,221 murders of women in just 13 states. The analysis revealed that violence against women occurred most often against women between 21 to 40 years old (43% of all cases) and to a lesser extent against girls and young women under 20 years old (23%). In these years, 26% of all murders were committed with a firearm, while 43% of them died as a result of acts that involved the use of excessive force.”(Femicide-and-impunity-in-mexico...)The amount of deaths due to to femicide are drastically increasing. Many of the victims are older women that can’t defend themselves in any shape or form. But in the end, women of all ages are losing their lives due to femicide. They have either died because of a firearm landing in the wrong hands or by men abusing their force and hurting women causing their death.

“The protests around the cases of Paulina, Samaí, and the other assassinated women, have included calls for the state government to declare a "Gender Alert," though this looks unlikely. It would require the authorities to dedicate more resources to combatting gender-based violence, developing special programs to confront the problem, as well as intensify investigations into existing cases. Even if it is declared there is no guarantee that it will make much of a difference. A similar alert was issued last summer in neighboring State of Mexico, which has the highest rate of femicide in the country. This week activists and relatives of victims held demonstrations in the state to denounce that the alert has not been accompanied by action that that femicides continue unabated.” (Pregnant Women Are the Latest Victims...)Many protesters have alerted the government that all of these assainations are due to ones gender. This alert was made to have womens voices heard. THey realize that thye might not be heard, but they try otherwise. This is the kind of determination we need now and days to get things done.If they keep pushing their limit the government will have no other choice but to make women’s voices heard.

In Mexico, no girl or women is safe.

“Paulina's family is sure that she was abducted and murdered by José María Sosa, the father of her child. They say that Sosa initially ran from the idea of parental responsibility when he heard Paulina was pregnant, but later got back in touch and said he wanted to be involved. The family says they met with him on the day Paulina disappeared, and then left the couple alone to chat in a cafe. They never heard from her again. Local media outlets reported that the government has combed through five tons of garbage looking for Paulina's corpse but her remains have still not surfaced. Sosa is facing charges of homicide and aiding an abortion, which is illegal in the state. But Paulina's family so distrust the judicial authorities that they feel they have little hope of justice being done unless they keep up the pressure with the vigil they hold every Friday night. They also want more efforts made to find her body.”(Pregnant Women Are the Latest Victims...) Not only are young girls being killed, but pregnant women are also being victims of femicide. Even though they are carrying a child, they still aren't shown mercy. They also have trust issues because they can't even be safe with the father of their own child. There is no limits for femicide.

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