A February murder of a 19-year-old Juarez woman in front of her young children incited outrage in Mexico. As gender based murders receive more attention in Juarez, Mexico, national legislators react with a new law to increase awareness and efforts to combat gender based violence. The law aims to identify and combat violence against women through multi-sector programs on the national, state and local levels. Programs include the involvement of police, media, schools, and courts, amongst others. Local rights activists in Juarez report some 400 women murdered in the area since 1993. Many of the murders have gone unsolved or have failed to even come under investigation. It is indicative of the attitudes and patterns of gender based violence throughout Mexico. Women have moved to the border area with their families for the increased economic opportunities available in factory work. Advocates say pervasive sexism and police corruption have contributed to the lack of investigation into the cases of murdered women.
Still, proponents of the law are hopeful that it will raise awareness. Despite its flaws, the law has already brought unprecedented attention to the issue of violence against women. Many say that it is an important advance in the Latin American country, where nearly four women are murdered every day. Advocates attribute continued commitment and work of women's rights activists have helped shape the law and national attention.
Compiled from: "Mexico Replies to Juarez With Anti-Violence Law," by Lorraine Orlandi. WomenseNews. 6 March 2007.