Mexico: Over 4,000 Women Murdered Under AMLO's Government as Femicide Rates Rise

The number of femicide cases or women murdered based on their gender in Mexico has reportedly reached 4,000 during the four years of the government of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, also known by his initials AMLO.

Mexico is facing big issues with drug cartels, immigration, and many others. However, many citizens believe that the rise in femicide cases has not been addressed as much.

Former National Action Party (PAN) presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya Cortes pointed out in his weekly video that Mexico under AMLO lacked public policies for women, especially with the spike in femicide incidents and removal of social programs with a gender perspective, Borderland Beat reported.

In anticipation of this week's International Women's Day commemoration, Cortes said some politicians will claim to support women but will not do anything, alluding to images of support for AMLO.

He recalled that budgets for shelters for women victims of violence had been cut while the funds for childcare centers and full-time schools had disappeared. Cortes also decried the rise of femicides throughout the country.

"Just look at how femicides are: four thousand women murdered in the four years of this government for the mere fact of being women. It is an open wound in the heart of Mexico. This government has not given more to women. It has taken away what they had, and when they have raised their voices, it has erected fences to prevent them from reaching them," said Cortes, who is currently in a self-imposed exile in the United States as he faces accusations of corruption in Mexico.

"Hopefully, the day after tomorrow, when women march to demand justice and demand that violence stops, they will be heard," the politician noted.

AMLO Making Little Progress on Combatting Femicide in Mexico

Mexico has been facing a rise in femicide rates for years, with 131 femicides happening from January to November 2022 in Mexico state alone. Across 11 days from late October to early November, there were already nine cases of femicide.

In 2021, there were more than 1,000 cases nationwide, which means that, on average, at least 10 women or girls have been killed every day of the year. National data has also shown little progress in addressing the issue.

Reuters reported that in 2021, murders in Mexico declined. However, the overall number of women being killed has risen. The gender-based violence in Mexico increased by 2.7% in 2021 from the previous year to 1,004. This number was more than double registered in 2015 when there were 427 femicides.

Mexican officials said the decline in murders in 2021 to 33,308 was the lowest total under AMLO, just lower than the 33,739 recorded in 2018.

According to PBS News, experts and advocates are saying that this rampant femicide across Mexico may have stemmed from several factors permeating the society, including cultural masculinity, gender inequality, and domestic violence, as well as a justice system riddled with flaws.

These problems include police officers not taking reports, clumsy investigations, and officials who revictimize women.

AMLO Promised to Curb Femicide But Has So-Far Failed

AMLO himself provided a litany of solutions to the problem earlier in his presidency, including "finding ways to live in a better society... [making sure] that there is no unemployment, that there are good salaries, that family disintegration is avoided, that there are proper salaries, that values are strengthened."

However, given the high number of femicide cases happening since he made that promise, many have pointed out that he has so far failed to act on the problem.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: What Are 'Femicides' And Why Are They on the Rise Across Mexico? - From CBS 8 San Diego