Governor of Chihuahua State
Lic. Patrício Martínez
Aldama 901, Colonía Centro
Chihuahua State
MEXICO

Señor Gobernador,

Four days go the daily newspaper in my home city of Melbourne (this
newspaper is called The Age) published a long article about the
continuing murders of young women in Ciudad Juárez.
This article was very distressing to read. For reasons I find impossible
to understand, the authorities show little interest when these young
women are reported missing by their families. If the bodies of the women
are ever recovered, they show the signs of unimaginable torture, sexual
assault and finally death by strangulation. It is heartbreaking to think
of the anguish of their mothers.
For some time now I have been following this issue. I am a member of
Amnesty International and I have several times been sent information
about different cases of young women who have gone missing in Chihuahua.
Twice before I have written letters about this to the various
authorities in Mexico, including yourself.
The newspaper article in The Age was particularly upsetting to read
because it showed so clearly that no serious steps are being taken to
combat this extremely worrying problem. It seems that the only thing the
people of Ciudad Juárez can be certain of is that the deaths will
continue. Women who are young and poor and live in Ciudad Juárez are not
safe. Such women cannot seek adequate protection from the state, nor
from the maquilas, where so many of them work.
I am therefore writing to you today to call upon you to take all
possible steps and to take them immediately, into investigating all
cases of murder and abduction of women in Chihuahua. An added problem
there seems to be that some state officials are complicit in these
murders. Evidence is often lost or falsified. Such acts are of course
serious abuses of authority and those responsible must be brought to
justice.
I also call upon you to ensure that the relatives of these young women
are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, taking into
account the deep suffering the loss of their loved ones has caused them.
Also, any organizations who are working to combat violence against women
must be able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of
reprisals and with full co-operation of all the relevant authorities.

Yours Sincerely