Increased Violence Against Women
Article written by Colin Bossen
The
"femicide" (the word homicide has been genderized in Mexico due to the
high numbers of murders targeting women) in Ciudad Juarez has been
topic of debate, concern and protest for about ten years.
In Juarez
murders of women have topped 300 and women's rights organizations
suspect a more organized group of perpetrators is behind the crimes.
Recently, however, attention has been drawn to other parts of Mexico
where femicide has risen to alarming levels. In San Cristobal, a city
of about 100,000 people, in 2004 there was least one woman killed every
month. Some organizers studying the cases draw links to the new
maquiladora in San Cristobal, and other societal changes brought about
by neoliberalism. Some blame Chiapas' proximity to the border, alcohol,
drugs, or persistent machismo attitudes. No matter what the cause,
women are needing to find new ways to protect themselves. And in a
place where police and legal authorities also can't be trusted, women
have found that!
support in each other. A coalition of women's organizations in San
Cristobal have taken on the task of collecting data on harassment,
abuse, and assaults and discussing and publishing safety information to
distribute. There is much work to be done, but the response of the
women's community gives hope.
The
"femicide" (the word homicide has been genderized in Mexico due to the
high numbers of murders targeting women) in Ciudad Juarez has been
topic of debate, concern and protest for about ten years.
In Juarez
murders of women have topped 300 and women's rights organizations
suspect a more organized group of perpetrators is behind the crimes.
Recently, however, attention has been drawn to other parts of Mexico
where femicide has risen to alarming levels. In San Cristobal, a city
of about 100,000 people, in 2004 there was least one woman killed every
month. Some organizers studying the cases draw links to the new
maquiladora in San Cristobal, and other societal changes brought about
by neoliberalism. Some blame Chiapas' proximity to the border, alcohol,
drugs, or persistent machismo attitudes. No matter what the cause,
women are needing to find new ways to protect themselves. And in a
place where police and legal authorities also can't be trusted, women
have found that!
support in each other. A coalition of women's organizations in San
Cristobal have taken on the task of collecting data on harassment,
abuse, and assaults and discussing and publishing safety information to
distribute. There is much work to be done, but the response of the
women's community gives hope.
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