La violencia contra las mujeres en M¨¦xico
Cable de EE UU sobre la poca eficacia de la oficina mexicana para proteger a la mujer
La embajada en el pa¨ªs centroamericano resalta las disputas sobre jurisdicci¨®n federal y estatal
| ID: | 164782 |
| Date: | 2008-08-04 16:59:00 |
| Origin: | 08MEXICO2382 |
| Source: | Embassy Mexico |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY |
| Dunno: | |
| Destination: | VZCZCXRO2898 RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHME #2382/01 2171659 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041659Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2828 INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MEXICO 002382 SENSITIVE SIPDIS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S ISSUES FOR DIRECTOR ANDREA BOTTNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MX, PGOV, PREL, PHUM SUBJECT: DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S ISSUES (IWI) VISITS MEXICO 1. On 28 July 2008, Andrea G. Bottner, Director of the Office of International Women's Issues at the State Department, visited Mexico City. Bottner was accompanied by Sandra Mayoral Pedroarias, Deputy Director of the Office of International Women's Issues, and Sue Else, President of the National Network to End Violence Against Women. During her one-day visit to Mexico City, Bottner met with civil society representatives and GOM officials to discuss gender-based violence, exploitation of women in Mexico and existing victim assistance programs. Representatives from the civil society said budgetary constraints hindered their efforts to assist greater numbers of domestic violence victims while officials at the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Violence Against Women and Trafficking in Persons (FEVIMTRA) said internal disagreements regarding jurisdiction severely hindered their efforts to prosecute cases of gender violence and trafficking in persons. While in Mexico City, Bottner and her delegation also met with officials at the National Institute of Women (INMUJER) and toured a domestic violence shelter. End Summary. THE CIVIL SOCIETY PERSPECTIVE ----------------------------- 2. (U) On 28 July, Deputy Director of the Fundacion Infantia (the Children's Foundation) Javier Martinez, Regional Director of the Coalition to Against Trafficking of Women and Children in Latin America and the Caribbean Teresa Ulloa and Pilar Vallejo of the National Network of Women in Mexico City dialogued and exchanged ideas with the Director of the Office of International Women's Issues (IWI) and her accompanying delegation. Martinez, Ulloa and Vallejo commented that women's NGOs in Mexico were severely under-funded, often stretching budgets suitable for only five or six months of expenses to cover annual operational costs. In general, gender-based violence does not receive sufficient attention from federal and state officials, according to Ulloa. Existing legislation, she criticized, is vague and places the burden to prove gender-based violence on the victim. Ulloa also said societal ills such as poverty and organized crime fueled gender-based violence throughout Mexico. An estimated 60 percent of Mexican women have experienced some form of gender-based violence. 3. (U) Despite tremendous financial constraints, women's NGOs have been vigilant and creative in their efforts to assist victims. Fundacion Infantia has established partnerships with local hotels like the Sheraton and JW Marriot in Mexico City, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta to train women ages 18-21 in hospitality and tourism. Vallejo mentioned that the National Network of Women plans to establish specialized shelters within indigenous communities and to lobby for stronger legislation to safeguard the human rights of all Mexican women and girls. Bottner commended the efforts of both organization, particularly Fundacion Infantia's efforts to move women from the role of victims to professionals. FEVIMTRA'S ROLE IN DETERRING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE --------------------------------------------- ---- 4. (U) Generally, cases of gender-based violence fall under the state,s jurisdiction. For these cases to reach the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Violence Against Women and Trafficking in Persons (FEVIMTRA), they must either involve a federal official or there must be proof that the crime occurred using federal transportation, on the federal highway system, or in a federal building. However, if these cases are linked to a larger organized crime network, the Organized Crime Division (SIEDO) of the Attorney General's Office (PGR) invokes jurisdiction. FEVIMTRA officials said internal disagreements regarding jurisdiction severely restricted their ability to intervene in cases involving violence against women and trafficking in persons. FEVIMTRA has no power to investigate state cases of domestic violence but officials can assist state officials in conducting investigations. FEVIMTRA officials say they are advocating new legislation that would allow federal jurisdiction to supersede state jurisdiction in domestic violence cases. 5. (U) Last fiscal year, the Mexican Congress appropriated MXP 70 million (approximately USD 7 million) for FEVIMTRA to build shelters for domestic violence and trafficking victims. Edith Carbajal, Deputy Coordinator of FEVIMTRA's Office of Victim's Assistance, said there were no existing shelters but that her office was finalizing the purchase of a building with the capacity to house 60 victims. In addition to offering shelter and psychological treatment, the facility would also offer individual and group therapy, artistic MEXICO 00002382 002.2 OF 003 training and a physical fitness program. Sue Else, Head of the National Network to End Violence Against Women in Missouri, asked if protection order were available through the Mexican courts to shield victims from their aggressors. FEVIMTRA officials commented that the General Law to Guarantee the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence authorized protection orders. 6. (U) FEVIMTRA officials estimate at least half of the country's PGR officials have completed a mandatory certification program covering gender violence and trafficking in persons. The certification program is conducted through a partnership with the National Autonomous University and is expected to extend its partnership to Iberoamerican University and the University of Guadalajara in the near future. In addition to PGR officials, Federal police, state level prosecutors and legal experts are also certified through the PGR's program. Although a few state police officials have taken the course, it is not obligatory. FEVIMTRA officials mentioned they were lobbying state authorities to make their certification program a mandatory part of law enforcement training. Independently of the PGR, The Coalition to Prevent Trafficking of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean currently trains state police officials through its partnership with Mexico's 23 Jesuit universities, which includes Iberoamerican University. THE STRUCTURE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS ------------------------------------------- 7. (U) Like their civil society counterparts, shelter directors complain that their capacity to assist victims of domestic violence is constrained by financial factors. Because of budgetary limitations, it is often difficult for shelter administrators to keep up with the demand for assistance and at times, victims are turned away. On average, a female victim comes to a shelter with three or four children. Shelter rules are outlined by the facility's director, and the victim's personal effects are searched for hazardous items. In the shelter visited by Bottner and her delegation, program participants are not permitted to leave the facility for the first 45 days; not even to maintain employment. After the 45 day risk assessment period has concluded, shelter administrators determine if it is safe for the victim and her children to venture outside of the compound's walls. If it is determined that the victim's life or that of her dependents are in danger, the risk assessment period is extended, the victim is restricted to the shelter and her minor children are educated inside of the facility. 8. (U) Both private and government-funded shelters nationally do not release information regarding their locations. Director of the National Network of Domestic Violence Shelters in Mexico City Margarita Guille and local shelter director Conchita Martinez disagreed about whether or not police authorities were familiar with the locations of these facilities. In Mexico City, municipal police officers are generally knowledgeable of the location of domestic violence shelters but in other states, these locations are retain their anonymity, according to Martinez. Guille countered that police throughout Mexico typically knew where domestic violence shelters were located. She also mentioned that when information regarding the whereabouts of a victim is leaked to a spouse or boyfriend, the National Shelter Network works quickly to relocate the individual and her children out of harms way INMUJER ------- 9. (U) The National Institute for Women (INMUJER) holds a cabinet-level advisory role within the Calderon Administration and receives its funding directly from the Mexican government. Officials at INMUJER explained that each year the organization solicits projects from civil society organization that promote women's issues. On average, financial assistance grants range from USD 3k to USD 30k, but INMUJER officials say the awarded grants are generally closer to the $30k maximum. In an effort to ensure equal funding opportunities for all women's NGOs, organizations funded during any fiscal year must wait for two years before submitting another proposal for funding consideration. INMUJER not only works closely with women's NGOs in Mexico but throughout Latin America to promote gender equality and victim's assistance programs. 10. (SBU) COMMENT: The root causes of gender-based violence in Mexico city run deep, so deep that it is impossible to MEXICO 00002382 003.4 OF 003 discuss the issue of violence against women without considering the effects of poverty, cultural mores, or increased national insecurity and instability. Not only do these factors fuel violence against and exploitation of women and girls but also a host of other societal problems, including human trafficking. Although officials appear genuinely interested in protecting the human rights of Mexican women, the GOM's war against the drug cartels and organized crime elements have forced civil society concerns to take a back-seat to more pressing national security issues. Both the GOM and civil society's efforts to combat gender-based violence are commendable but without a more coordinated effort to eradicate domestic violence at the national level, it will be difficult for even the best efforts to keep up with increasing demands for victim assistance. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BASSETT |
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