Over 5000 women have met their demise under the rule of AMLO
In a disturbing trend, Mexico has become a nation grappling with an alarming number of femicides. Over the past five years, more than 5,000 women have fallen victim to this heinous crime, with more than 3,000 women murdered each year, according to recent data.
The situation is no better in the neighbouring countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Mexico. A report from January 2021 to December 2023 counted a staggering 8,344 femicides in the region.
The current administration in Mexico, that of AMLO, has seen a steep rise in the number of femicide victims, with over 4,800 open investigation files for the crime. However, it's concerning that only 24% of the over 10 women murdered every day in Mexico are investigated as femicides.
The tragic reality is not limited to adult women. Child femicides have also been on the rise, with 341 cases documented by the National Citizen Observatory on Femicide over the past five years. The causes of these crimes are horrifying, ranging from beatings, stabbings, slit throats, and gunshots. Most of the child victims were between 10 and 17 years old.
Brazil has the highest number of documented and investigated femicides, with a total of 1,706 cases. Mexico, despite its high numbers, ranks second in the region for the most victims of gender-based violence.
The states with the most child femicides in Mexico are the State of Mexico (7), Jalisco (6), Puebla (5), Chihuahua (5), Mexico City (4), and Oaxaca (4). It's disheartening to note that only two percent of the 929 women murdered in Guanajuato were classified as femicides.
The response of the AMLO administration to historic femicide protests has been more of the same, leaving many questioning the commitment to addressing this pressing issue. The Latin American Map of Femicides 2023 reported a woman was murdered every two hours in the region, underscoring the urgent need for action.
In 2023, 45 child femicides have been documented, a number that should serve as a call to action for all. The fight against femicide is a battle that requires the collective effort of society, government, and every individual to ensure a safer future for all.
