MOTHERS OF SLAIN WOMEN DEMAND JUSTICE

by Ana María Ruiz-Brown, Staff Writer-Translator

On the "International Day of No Violence Against Women," November 25, several mothers of assassinated women rallied in Ciudad Juárez. The mothers of the many women recently found dead in several parts of the city wore black and walked as in a funeral march. They demanded justice and greater police effort to solve the cases. They also demanded that police authorities prevent and combat crime against women. They walked in silence, with posters which said, "Aggression against any woman is an agression against all women." The mothers also carried black crosses symbolizing each victim killed in the last few months. In front of the Municipal Presidency, the mothers of the victims placed candles with cards of the names of their daughters and the dates they were found killed. The crosses were placed in front of the Palace of Government.

In 1995, an average of 17 rapes per month were reported in Ciudad Juárez. In the Buendia colonia of Juárez alone, twenty-four women were found murdered in the past year. On the Mexican side of the El Paso-Juárez border 97 women have been murdered in the last four years. According to Astrid González, coordinator of Committee Against Violence, it is scary to think of the victims' last moments. It is also scary that there are not concrete actions--from either the community or the authorities--to prevent this violence. Of the last 25 reported assassinations, only 17 have been solved by the judicial police.

The protestors made four central requests that were delivered to Governor Francisco Barrio:
1. Create a Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate homicides of the women from Ciudad Juarez.
2. Focus the necessary economic and technical resources to support the Public Prosecutor's Office.
3. Inform the public about advances in the investigations in the crimes.
4. Start a campaign to prevent sexual offenses in addition to tougher punishments against sex offenders and crimes of violence against women.

Source: Diario de Juárez