Original Source: www.fidh.org
Mexico is grappling with a staggering crisis of women and girls disappearing, particularly within the State of Mexico, hub for organized crime and human trafficking networks. A recent report reveals that since 2018, an alarming 11,566 women and girls have gone missing, representing nearly half of the region’s disappearances. Despite these dire statistics, local authorities have yet to officially acknowledge the connection between human trafficking and these disappearances, stymying effective responses and leaving families in anguish.
The deep-rooted patriarchal culture coupled with systemic corruption breeds a toxic environment where violence against women is normalized. Juan Carlos Gutiérrez from IDHEAS points out that this widespread disregard for women’s dignity compounded by prejudices against victims exacerbates human trafficking issues. Additionally, organized criminal networks thrive in environments plagued by poverty and fear, receiving tacit support from locals drawn in by economic incentives and threats of violence.
Investigation failures, systemic neglect, and collusion among state agents create a climate that encourages atrocities against innocent lives. Official prosecution rates for disappearances remain shockingly low—between 2% and 6% nationwide in 2021. Often, families of the disappeared must embark on their own perilous quests for justice, facing threats for speaking out. A poignant case highlights a family forced to confront a wayward system that failed them, only to be ensnared in the web of organized crime.
Access to justice for victims of trafficking is obstructed by bureaucratic inefficiencies and a lack of gender sensitivity in law enforcement. The report underscores the fragmentation within the judicial system and the absence of coordinated responses to trafficking. Unfortunately, this hinders both the acknowledgment of victims and the provision of essential support services, leaving many without hope.
Immediate action is essential; the report urges that disappearances linked to human trafficking be treated as criminal offenses warranting prosecution. Moreover, justice must be accessible to the families impacted by these egregious crimes. Without decisive steps toward accountability and reform, the cycle of pain and disappearance is destined to continue.
The State of Mexico has become a focal point for severe cases of disappearances of women and girls, indicating a troubling interplay between human trafficking and systemic gender-based violence. Previous reports highlighted issues in neighboring Guerrero, but the situation in Mexico State has escalated dramatically. Gender norms deeply entrenched in society facilitate this crisis and create a landscape where organized crime flourishes, often with impunity.
The situation in the State of Mexico demands urgent intervention. With thousands of women and girls missing, acknowledging the link between disappearances and human trafficking is paramount. The continued neglect and systemic injustice faced by victims and their families perpetuate a cycle of violence, and only through reform and accountability can there be hope for change.
