By Emberly Quiroz Palomares

Mexico’s history of non-effective efforts to combat the human rights issue of femicide has yet to come to an end. Femicide refers to the intentional killing often with a gender-related motivation. While cases of femicide aren’t exclusive to Mexico, the country has the second-highest rate of femicide in Latin America. The states with the highest cases include the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Nuevo León. Between 1993 and 2023, more than 2,526 women were murdered, yet experts claim that these numbers are in fact much larger, as many cases of femicide go unreported or misclassified as “disappearances”. This underreporting is due not only to the inaction of the federal government, but also from deeply entrenched systems of oppression established over decades in Mexico. Overall, cases of femicide have had a much larger impact on Mexico, as according to the 2019 National Survey on Urban Public Security agency, 77% of Mexican women feel unsafe.

Why does femicide in Mexico continue to thrive? As mentioned before, there continue to be systems that do very little to make women feel safe in the country. Machismo plays a significant role, often fueling violence against women. This cultural norm, rooted in Latin America, describes a sense of toxic masculinity behavior, often with a man preparator. It enables men to physically, mentally, and emotionally hurt women. While it’s not the sole cause of violence against women, it certainly supports the use of violence against women. In 2007 the country enacted the General Law for Women’s Access to a Life Free of Violence, recognizing femicide as a federal concern. This was a major step towards addressing the issue, working towards punishing and preventing the violence. This law further created agencies dedicated to providing legal and psychological services. As of 2012, femicide was now considered a criminal offense under the Federal Penal Code. The code further defines femicide as “the violent death of women for reasons of their gender”.

 Although Mexico has tried to establish precedent and legal framework surrounding the issue, it has yet to help the victims of violence. One major factor contributing to the increasing number of femicides is the lack of effective investigations and police negligence. The Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System reports that in 2022, 3,754 women were murdered, yet only 975 of these cases were investigated as femicides. Authorities are also known to have hostile attitudes towards victims and their families, making it harder to report such crimes. In that same report from the National Public Security System, family members of victims stated that they are “discriminated against, stigmatized, mistreated, defamed, and have their reputations damaged by institutional practices.” This often results in authorities stereotyping and diminishing the traumatic events that victims have gone through. 

Activists claim that this violence directly linked to the broader insecurity across the country. Impunity and corruption within the government also impacts femicides. While 92% of crimes go unpunished in Mexico, the government's overall lack of intervention becomes increasingly evident. The 2023 Americas Barometer reports that 31% of Mexicans trust their police. Without a reliable relationship with those that are meant to protect them, women have few resources to defend themselves against their perpetrators. The impunity rate in the country has reached an all-time high and continues to fail Mexican citizens. Driven by various forms of discrimination in the country, impunity may also be linked to violence against women.

Today, various movements have risen to bring awareness and attention to femicide. Activism and feminist movements like #NiUnaMenos and #UnDiaSinMujeres bring women together and strive for recognition of femicides in Latin American countries. #UnDiaSinMujeres was a protest that called for women to not participate in the economy to show the value that they bring into not only the economy but also the society. Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, following in the footsteps of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has shifted focus on femicide cases as a national priority. In her victory speech she stated that she “will focus on tackling the causes of violence and eliminating impunity”.

With a new administration, led by a woman nonetheless, President Claudia Sheinbaum has a lot of expectations to reduce gender-based violence in Mexico. Addressing the crisis requires educating the youth about standing up against violence, staying informed on the issue, as well as supporting anti-violence initiatives. Through these efforts Mexico can demonstrate its solidarity with women and strive for effective solutions for change.

Emberly Quiroz Palomares is a student researcher at American University's School of International Service where she studies international affairs with a concentration in Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights. She is partially interested in U.S.-Mexico bilateral relations. Emberly serves as a research fellow with the Futures of Democracy, Tech & Human Rights Lab at American University.

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