2nd Mexican State Issues Emergency Alert over Gender Violence

Seven women are killed every day in Mexico, and in the country’s war on drugs, women are the primary victims.

Authorities finally issued an emergency alert Monday over gender violence concerns in eight municipalities in the state of Morales, the second state in the country to make the move in the last two weeks.

The decision followed an investigation that analyzed the conditions of women’s rights in the state between January 2000 and June 2013, local authorities stated in a communique.

The emergency demand will now compel authorities to launch an in-depth investigation into the issue and to determine concrete measure on security, justice and prevention to address it.

For instance, measures will include immediate orders issued to protect women who have been victims of violence and the creation of security units specialized in gender violence and with immmediate response. The alert also plans the creation of a extensive database on gender violence, the training of administrative staff in gender violence, and the launch of campaigns of awareness at school and in society in general.

Seven women are killed every day in Mexico, according to women groups, and in the country’s war on drugs, women are the main victims. According to the Mexican statistical institute INEGI, the total femicides nationwide in 2011 surpassed 2,693. In some Mexican states, femicides are 15 times higher than the global average.

In July, five men in Mexico were sentenced to 697 years in prison for femicide in what is an unprecedented move in a country where the systematic killing of women often goes unpunished.