|
.jpg)
Recent Similar ArticlesArizona:
|
ARIZONA: MEXICAN HYPOCRISY
by
Conrado Garcia Jamin | 06.30.2010
Invisible Victims: Migrants on the move in Mexico, documents the alarming levels of abuse suffered by tens of thousands of irregular migrants from Central America every year trying to reach the United States through Mexico. Conrado Garcia Jamin "The widespread abuses against migrants in Mexico are a human rights crisis. Invisible Victims: Migrants on the move in Mexico, documents the alarming levels of abuse suffered by tens of thousands of irregular migrants from Central America every year trying to reach the United States through Mexico. "Migrants in Mexico face a human rights crisis that leaves virtually no access to justice for fear of reprisals and deportation from the country if the abuses," said Rupert Knox, a researcher for Amnesty International Mexico . "The continued inaction of the authorities to address abuses against illegal immigrants has made his journey through Mexico is one of the most dangerous in the world." Kidnappings for migrants, mostly for ransom, reached new heights in 2009, the year in which the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) reported that nearly 10,000 were abducted over a period of six months, and nearly half of victims interviewed said that public officials were involved in his abduction. It is estimated that 6 out of 10 migrant women and girls suffer sexual violence, which allegedly makes some traffickers require women given a contraceptive injection before the trip, to avoid becoming pregnant as a result of rape. On January 23, 2010, armed police were stopping a freight train they were traveling more than 100 migrants in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico. Veronica (not her real name) said that federal police forced her to get off the train along with other migrants and lie face down on the floor, then stole their belongings and threatened to kill them if they did not continue their journey on foot along the tracks. After walking for hours, the group was attacked by armed men who raped Veronica and killed at least one of the migrants. Days later arrested two suspects after a local activist assist migrants to file a complaint but no action was taken against the Federal Police, although migrants identified two officers allegedly involved. "Mexico has a responsibility to prevent, punish and remedy the abuses, whether they are committed by criminal gangs as if they are the work of public officials," said Rupert Knox. The report calls for immediate action to ensure access of migrants to the complaints mechanisms, whatever their situation, and ensure effective investigations. The vast majority of migrants traveling through Mexico are from Central America who are directed to the U.S. border to find work. Ruben Figueroa, human rights defender Mexico that provides shelter and food to migrants, told Amnesty International: "Since leaving their homes because of extreme poverty where they live, the journey north is a nightmare is hell for them, but they do for the welfare of their families. " The Mexican government has often stated its commitment to protect the rights of migrants, whatever their legal status, and is a leading advocate for the rights of migrants on the international scene. Despite some positive steps in recent years, for example, improving the protection of the rights of unaccompanied children and criminalization of trafficking, in fact, in many cases, has not prevented abuse migrants, nor has punished those responsible. Among the recommendations of Amnesty International to address this human rights crisis include: • Legislative reforms to ensure access to justice for migrants |
|
© 1999–2008 Philadelphia Independent Media Center |
|
Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by PhillyIMC.
|
Comments
Post new comment