Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - Justice and Peace Links Newsletter, 2005, Issue 8

Justice and Peace Links

The electronic newsletter of the Presbyterian Women Justice and Peace Committee

Women Murdered in Mexico

2005, Issue 8

By Jean Vieten

Background
In the last 10 years, more than 300 young women have been murdered in the area of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas, and 450 women have simply disappeared. Most of the women are between the ages of 14 and 27, are poor and are in the border area to find work in the maquiladoras, sweatshops that produce parts and products for the United States and pay poverty level wages. Many of the bodies show evidence of violent sexual assault.

Few of these murders have been solved, so the public has lost confidence in the police and government authorities to investigate and prosecute these horrific crimes. Amnesty International reports that there has been negligence, tampering with and destruction of evidence and accusations of official corruption. These reports give the impression that violence against women is officially condoned. The small accomplishments in the struggle for justice are usually due to the perseverance of victim's families.

Each of these women is someone's daughter, sister, wife or mother. Each is a child of God. Read on to find out how we as Presbyterian Women can inform ourselves and take steps to let the Mexican authorities know that this situation is not acceptable. The murderers must be brought to justice and young women must be protected so that crimes of this nature come to a stop.

The dark cross on a pink background has become the symbol of the Juárez serial-killing victims. This monument was at the Juárez-El Paso border. Photo courtesy of Amigos de las Mujeres de Juárez

Biblical/Theological Dimensions
What does Holy Scripture say about working for justice?

"Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate .... Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:15a, 23–24).

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18–19).

PC(USA) Position
The 197th General Assembly (1985) stated, "A church committed to peacemaking cannot avoid its responsibility to address the issue of domestic and international violence against women" (Minutes, 1985, Part I, p. 571).

The 216th General Assembly (2004) passed a commissioner's resolution that instructed the Stated Clerk to express the concern, dismay and grief of the PC(USA) to President Vicente Fox and to Governor Patricio Martinez Garcia, State of Chihuahua, Mexico, over the systematic murder and disappearance of young women; requested representatives of our binational border ministry, Pasos de Fe, to express the PC(USA)'s deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the young women; instructed the General Assembly Council to communicate our concern to appropriate ecclesiastical partners and civil institutions to help focus international attention on the situation and directed the General Assembly Council to participate in a service to be planned by Pasos de Fe, the presbyteries of Sierra Blanca and Tres Rios, in dialogue with the church in Mexico, to join in public witness and worship that cries out for justice.

"Save the Women," the service of worship and public witness sponsored by Pasos de Fe Border Ministry and the Presbyteries of Tres Rios, Sierra Blanca, Palo Duro and Chihuahua (National Presbyterian Church of Mexico and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)), took place on Sunday, April 3, 2005, at Chamizal Park, Ciudad Juárez, immediately across the Cordova Bridge from El Paso. One of the participants was Judia Foreman, moderator of Presbyterian Women in Tres Rios Presbytery.

Judia shared her experience, saying, "A man spoke in Spanish of his missing daughter. Although I did not understand his words, I could feel his pain, his suffering. The translator explained that his daughter has been missing since 1997. She was only 14 when she disappeared. He shared a poem he had written to her, revealing that he had not given up that she was alive and would return. What has her life been like? What has she been subjected to? How has she endured the pain of separation from her family? Another culture, another language, but the pain is the same."

What Can Presbyterian Women Do?

Pray for the situation
Be informed
Facilitate discussions on these issues in your PW group
Sign on to action alerts and online petitions
Host victims' families when they're touring the United States
Form or join a delegation to visit Ciudad Juárez with Mexico Solidarity Network or others

Resources

Web

Amigos de las Mujeres de Juárez works toward ending crimes against women in Ciudad Juárez and Chihuahua City, and provides financial, logistical and emotional support to the families of the victims.

The Mexico Solidarity Network is a grassroots-based organization dedicated to profound social change that challenges existing power relationships and builds alternatives on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border.

News and information on the "Juárez Women," offered in both English and Spanish

A Web site providing names, photos and information about some of the disappeared women (entirely in Spanish)

Presbyterian Border Ministry (PBM) is a cooperative endeavor of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its mission is to share the Gospel in Mexican cities along the 2,000-mile border with the United States, serving the needs of spirit, body and mind, with multiple sites stretching from the Gulf to the Pacific.

Information on Amnesty International's campaign to Stop Violence Against Women

"Las Desaparecidas"
An article on the disappearing women of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, written by Ann Crews Melton in the January/February 2004 issue of Horizons. To order, call Presbyterian Distribution Service, (800) 524-2612, and ask for Item #HZN-04-200; $4 each, plus shipping and handling.



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