Fátima Cecilia Aldrighetti: Gender violence, insensitivity, and impunity

The femicide of Ingrid Escamilla was made public last week, a case that sparked outrage in Mexico, as in the case of dozens of other femicides . This time, the case of Fátima has shocked and moved society, especially because she was just a little girl , who was sexually abused and tortured in Mexico City .

As in other cases, there is negligence at different levels, something that could have resulted in the fatal outcome . So if Fátima was abducted by an unknown woman outside school on February 11, why did school authorities allowed a woman who was not a relative to pick her up from school?

Fátima’s family

said they tried to file a police report a few hours after the little girl went missing. There, prosecutors sent them to another government office on the other side of the city, where they were told authorities couldn’t do anything yet as the search for Fátima could only start when 72 hours had passed since she went missing.

Yesterday, Mexico City authorities released a video where Fátima is seen with a woman. Why didn’t local authorities check surveillance video minutes after the family reported the disappearance of the little girl? If there are any obstacles to obtain the surveillance videos, what would it take to make the process more efficient?

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Additionally, it was later revealed that Fátima’s mother had been accused of mistreating and emotional neglect against Fátima and her two siblings; back them, the little girl was only 2 years old. Why did the DIF reveal this information? Why is the government re-victimizing the victim and her family?

Moreover, Fátima’s case highlights how police reports and lawsuits get lost in a sea of b ureaucratic processes . For example, let’s not forget that the murderer of Ingrid Escamilla had been previously denounced for domestic violence .

The reigning impunity in Mexico shows how insensitive authorities are and how society is the one who raises its voice to demand justice . It seems like social pressure is the only thing that can push authorities to do their job. While society demands justice , there will be hope of a change in the way authorities act to halt crime .

Therefore, clear actions against femicide , its implementation, and improvement are essential to eradicate this heinous crime .

Recommended: The atrocious femicide of Ingrid Escamilla sparks outrage in Mexico

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