In 2010, there were over 7,000 cases of rape documented in 10 of Mexico’s 32 states, according to the National Citizens’ Observatory for Femicide. The Observatory also reported 1,235 femicides between January 2010 and June 2011 in 8 Mexican states, with another 3,282 women missing in 9 states. In addition to this high crime rate, victims face another major problem: in the wake of Mexico’s military crackdown on drug trafficking, citizens charging military officers with misconduct, are met with deaf ears. In fact, the National Citizens’ Observatory for Femicide was asked to monitor and document cases of rape because the crimes are not being investigated by the proper authorities, including rapes and sexual torture committed by law enforcement officials.
Due to Mexico’s failure to protect its female citizens and its inability to investigate and prosecute criminals, it has been found guilty by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on several occasions. The first such ruling occurred in late 2009. It found Mexico responsible for failing to protect the lives of three women found dead in Ciudad Juárez. Most recently, 11 of the 26 women who were arrested, beaten, raped, and tortured sexually in San Salvador Atenco appealed their case to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, claiming that they had received no justice within Mexico since they were attacked in 2006.
Compiled from: Godoy, Emilio, Deadly Cocktail of Sexual Violence and Impunity, Inter-Press Service News Agency (23 November 2011).