Rising violence against women in Mexico
If you were to take a guess, what do you think is the leading cause of death for young women ages 15 to 24 in Mexico? Would it surprise you if I said that it was homicide? According to a 2019 report by Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), homicide was the cause of death for nearly 7 out of every 10 women in this age group. Mexico has been ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women by the UN. Since 2012, the UN’s Women’s organisation has been highlighting the problem of rising violence against women in Mexico. However, this problem still persists even after more than a decade, proving itself to be an urgent concern that should be promptly addressed. Yet, the inadequate government measures and inefficient police action have repeatedly disappointed the world and the victim’s loved ones.
There are a few factors contributing to the rising violence against women in Mexico. One of which is the inadequate government measures. More often than not, when a missing young woman's case is filed, it would be treated lightly. Things like,”Maybe she ran from home.” or “She’ll come home soon.” will be said to these anxious families and that would be the end of it, unless there are persistent reports. Even then, the investigation efforts would often be inefficient and insufficient, forcing families to take searches and investigations into their own hands. But even if a body is found, these criminals will still be able to escape justice due to the high corruption rates in the police department itself. Thus, many crimes that include violence against women are committed with impunity, as perpetrators are rarely held accountable for their own actions.
Another factor that comes into play is the cultural attitudes towards women. One of which is patriarchy and machismo, in which men are expected to be dominant and in control, where women are expected to be submissive and obedient, leading to devaluation of women’s lives and fostering a culture of violence against women. Victim-blaming is also a toxic culture that is prevalent in today’s society. In some cases, women who are victims of violence may be blamed for their own victimisation, due to cultural attitudes that women who wear provocative clothes or drink alcohol or engage in “risky” activities are responsible for any harm that comes to them. This can prevent them from having access to support or services if anything happens. This pushes the blame to the victims instead of the perpetrators, which embolden the perpetrators. Another cultural attitude is the objectification of women. In some cultures, women are objectified and treated as commodities rather than human beings, contributing to the problem of violence against women, in which women are seen as disposable or expendable. With the culture of violence in the society, women experience constant fear and anxiety when going out of their homes, contributing to psychological and mental stress as they constantly feel unsafe when they are alone. They might even start normalising these violent behaviours as constantly hearing about these cases will have a desensitising effect on them, possibly leaving them with a feeling of resignation. To some, the constant reminders of the prevalence of violence in their home country can be traumatic, leading to anxiety and depression.
A recent case that sparked outrage was the case of Debanhi Escobar. On April 9, 2022, Debanhi Escobar went missing after leaving a party on the outskirts of the city of Monterrey in northeastern Mexico. A taxi was supposed to take her home, but Escobar got out of the car. It's unclear why, but her family believes the driver may have tried to touch her inappropriately. The taxi driver then took a photo of her at around 5 am and sent it to her friends, as proof that she was still alive when he dropped her off. This haunting photo of Debanhi standing alone in the long stretch of empty highway was the last known photo ever taken of her. 13 days later, on April 22, Debanhi’s remains were found in a cistern, in a motel in General Escobedo, a municipality of Monterrey metropolitan area, and traces of violence were visible on her body. The very same motel had been searched 4 different times yet only on the 5th time, her body was found. How is it possible that the police have searched that area four times but only found her body on the fifth? How is it possible that no one noticed the smell of a corpse until more than a week after the death? How is it possible that there wasn’t a single witness that night, not even the 24-hour security service? Her case has shed light on the issue of gender violence and corruption of the officials in Mexico and till this day, her murderer hasn’t been found.
Last known photo of Debanhi Escobar
As Debanhi’s case garnered worldwide attention, people are reviewing the policies set in place to protect women’s interests in Mexico. A few policies of these include legal frameworks, gender-based violence alert, cultural change and prevention programmes. Firstly, legal frameworks include the General Law for Women's Access to a Life Free of Violence which was implemented in 2007. This law criminalises femicide, sexual assault and domestic violence. However, since their judicial system is corrupted and the culture of impunity is common, having a law does not make a difference if most of the perpetrators can escape scot-free. Secondly is the implementation of a gender-based violence alert which was established in 2007. This declares a state of emergency in areas where violence against women is particularly prevalent, and specific measures will be implemented to combat the emergency. However, it is overall ineffective due to bureaucratic delays, insufficient resources and lack of follow-up action. Thirdly, is the cultural change. Mexico strives to address the deeply ingrained attitudes of masochism and patriarch culture in citizens. For example in 2019, the government launched the "Spotlight Initiative," which is a global partnership aimed at eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. This initiative includes activities such as awareness-raising campaigns and community mobilisation. Additionally, in 2020, the government launched the "Men for Equality" campaign, which is aimed at engaging men and boys in efforts to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women. However, these campaigns are only using moral persuasion which often has little effectiveness. Moreover, masochism has been present for many years, and is deeply rooted in people’s belief, wanting to change these beliefs will be a very challenging and slow process. Lastly, is the prevention programmes. The Ministry of Public Education has implemented the program "Education without Violence," which aims to promote healthy relationships and prevent violence among children and adolescents. This is a good way as it is comparatively easier to change their mindset as compared to an adult, and it is a good way to nip the problem at the roots. However, these students spend considerably more time at home than in school, thus parents' influence would be predominant as compared to school's and these students would still be more influenced by their parents' traditional school of thoughts. This also requires sustained and consistent efforts and funds to follow through with the school programmes.
Such limitations can be combated in several ways. The first way can be to increase funding for campaigns and programmes which educate the public on the correct mentality on gender equality. WIth enough funding, these campaigns and programmes can be sustained and will be able to stand on its ground for a long time. Another way is inclusivity. The government can work to ensure that there are economic opportunities for women as well so that there is gender equality in the workforce. With men and women working side by side, masochism and patriarch thinking will be bound to fading away.
In conclusion, the issue of violence against women is a multifaceted issue that has widespread consequences for individuals and society. It is severe and has significant ramifications for human rights, social cohesion, and economic development. Therefore, it is crucial that we continue to work towards creating a society where violence against women is not tolerated, and all women are able to live without fear of violence.
Written by: Chua Jia Xuan, Keris (23A11)
Edited by: Lee Ren Kai Artemus (22A15), Charmaine Lee (22S77)
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