Equal Treatment of Women in Mexico -- Mexican Ambassador to Canada

Today's entry (I should more accurately say, this weeks, given the pace that I've been posting lately), is a very important issue that is being spearheaded by my good friend and colleague, Veronica Islas.

Below is the release that she put out:

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Barrio Terrazas was received on 26 February 2009 as Ambassador of Mexico to Canada,

Governor of the state of Chihuahua from 1992 to 1998. Barrio Terrazas and his government proved to be dangerously and unforgivably bigotted and prejudice.

In the past twenty years in Ciudad Juarez, a border town in Mexico, young women from underprivileged backgrounds have been abducted, sexually assaulted, tortured, mutilated and murdered.

To date, over 500 female bodies bearing signs of sexual assault and torture have been found and about 1000 women are still missing.

While he was governor of the state where these murders are happening, Barrio Terrazas said that these killings were a "natural phenomenon, because the victims walked in dark streets and they were dressed provocatively, because they were wearing mini-skirts."
To suggest that the victims were asking for it because they were wearing miniskirts shows the mysoginy that this man really feels. Barrio Terrazas also blocked the creation of an independent commission to study the crimes, one that was recommended by the UN Human Rights Commission.The question is, why? Despite numerous reports, recommendations, reports and evidence presented to Mexican authorities, no one has been brought to justice, whether members of the Mexican government or law enforcement, or even drug cartels in Ciudad Juarez. On the contrary, many people have been threatened and harassed for denouncing the inaction of the authorities and demanding justice, some have already died.

Demonstrations will be held simultaneously in Mexico and Canada to denounce the macho attitude and passivity of the new ambassador and the Mexican government inaction in the situation of feminicide.

For info:
Montreal
Geneviève Lacroix
Committee for Human Rights in Latin America
genevieve@cdhal.org / www.cdhal.org / 514.387.5550

Ottawa
Veronica Islas
veronicalas@gmail.com (613) 263 5603

Our Requests
WE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR WOMEN MEXICAN AND ORGANIZATIONS DEFENSE OF RIGHTS TO SEEK GOUVERNEMENTMEXICAIN:
I. Mr. De Barrio Terrazas withdraw from his duties as Ambassador of Mexico to Canada. II. To respect its commitment to various international treaties signed and ratified, ie the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Inter-American Convention Belem do Para to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women. III. To end the impunity that is crippling the judiciary and security forces and bring the perpetrators to justice.
IV. Also, to protect the lives and integrity of human rights defenders and organizations accompanying the families of victims and the latter.

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT:
I. Accordance with international obligations contracted by the Canadian government to exercise its duty of care towards the situation of human rights in Mexico, a partner.
II. Review carefully the case of Mr. Francisco Javier Barrio Terrazas to declare persona non grata, because his lack of respect unequivocally meet the women murdered and missing is a complete Canadian values and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canada, which provides protection to all persons, regardless of sex.
III. Provide support to the Mexican government to implement the reforms necessary to reform and restructure the Mexican justice system.
IV. Finally, we ask the Canadian government to respect its tradition of human rights and invite the Mexican government to handle cases of victims and to stop the impunity in Ciudad Juarez, as well as ensuring the protection of women victims violence throughout Mexico.

To Canadians:
I. We ask to join us, feminist organizations, organizations of human rights in Canada and Mexico and to the families of victims to show solidarity with them. II. We invite organizations and individual Canadians to join us to demonstrate and support our requests.
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A small demonstration occurred last Friday, April 3rd here in Ottawa in front of the Mexican Embassy.

Before zipping down to Montreal I attended and snapped some photos of the event: