Regional court faults Mexico over femicides

In a landmark decision, the Interamerican Court of Human Rights (ICHR) blasted Mexico’s government for irregularities and lax investigation in the deaths of women in Ciudad Juarez.

The ICHR’s decision- made in November but publicized on Thursday- found a litany of problems by federal investigators including forcing innocent people to confess, mishandling evidence, and impunity against suspected officials. The court further ruled that the families of the three female victims mentioned in the case should be given $800,000 in compensation.

The binding decision- that the Mexican government said it would abide- was highly praised by local human rights groups and victims rights organizations:

Activists said that the 156-page decision strikes a blow for justice in a circumstance in which many of the dead were impoverished young factory workers.

"It represents hope for thousands of people, of mothers, of desperate family members with nowhere to turn for help, no one to bring them justice," said Irma Guadalupe Casas, director of Casa Amiga, a Ciudad Juarez group that works with victims' families.

Some Mexican activists further claim that as many as 500 women have been slain in the border city since 1993.

Image- Los Angeles Times
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, AP