by Angie Liew
For many of us, the COVID-19 lockdowns gave us the opportunity to reconnect with our families and loved ones. We found comfort under our roofs where we resided in safety. Our previous way of life may have grinded to a halt, but we managed, with virtual classes, work from home, food delivery, and Netflix in bed. Our longing to return to the real world stretches not far beyond wanting to physically reap new adventures with our friends. These are the fortunate.
For 66% of women and girls in Mexico, the same cannot be said. For them, their daily struggles exceed just enduring the virus outbreak, but surviving in their very own homes, plagued with constant fear and abuse. Can you even begin to imagine being held captive by your very own partner; being beaten, raped, and stabbed to death in cold blood? Your helpless body mutilated in his attempt to hide the evidence: Skinned, cut to pieces, organs ripped out. Would anyone even recognize you?
This is the true story of Ingrid Escamilla, who was only 25-years-old when she was murdered in her own home. It was a disgusting, brutal murder, yet it was a mere 1 out of the 700 other femicide cases currently under investigation in Mexico. With the commencement of lockdowns beginning in March, these victims of violence soon found themselves helplessly trapped with their abusers, having no means of escape, and fearing the worst. Widespread through years of unkept promises and ignorance, welcome to Mexico’s femicides epidemic.
Femicide, by definition, refers to the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender. This crisis, however, is nothing new for the 77% of Mexican women who have reportedly felt unsafe since the early 2000s. The numbers have been on the rise since 2012, yet nothing has been done to bring justice to Mexico’s misogynistic culture, nor legal protections for women implemented… but why not?
In December of 2018, Andrés Manuel López Obrador was sworn into presidency with a promise to transform the nation into one of equality. Since then, he has turned a blind eye to the escalating violence against women and children in Mexico, going as far as dismissing (without evidence) 90% of emergency hotline calls as fakes. Worse still, claims that “Mexican women have never been as protected as now”, and released government videos suggesting that families should ‘wave the white flag before violence overcomes you’. It is absurd — putting the responsibility of safety on the very victims who fall prey to the violence. With the death toll depicting 2020 as the most dangerous year ever for women in Mexico, the looming helplessness of the people grows with each passing day.
Amidst the pandemic, it has grown progressively difficult to find shelters for victims of violence, especially for the women and girls who could just as easily be one of the 11 women found dead every day. With limited funding and a recently government-approved budget cut of 75% for the Federal Women’s Institute, the remaining shelters struggle to cope with the overwhelming crowds. Since the beginning of the year, outraged protestors took it to the streets in Mexico City’s main square, and yet their voices fell upon deaf ears yet again, as it has been since 2016 when the demonstrations began.
In a time of such technological and social advancements, it seems unreal that such prevailing violence and sexism subsists in our society. It, without a doubt, poses a threat to the freedom and rights of women all around the world. We must do what we can to prevent its growth — terminate its very existence. Educate yourself about these issues, sign petitions, donate to shelters, raise awareness. We must not remain silent in a time where leaders pretend not to hear our cries for change and justice. Let these victims know they are not alone in this fight.