In a 16 July 2003 correspondence, the director of the Centre for Family Investigations (Centro de Investigación Familiar, A.C., CIFAC) stated that any crime committed by a member of the military falls under the sole jurisdiction of the military justice system. It is within this very closed system that the officer is charged, judged and possibly convicted (CIFAC 16 July 2003). The director also mentioned that the representatives of a military camp that she contacted did not provide any information on the subject (ibid.). CIFAC, whose headquarters are in Monterrey in the State of Nuevo Leon, is an organization that offers various types of assistance, including marital psychotherapy programs and programs for victims of domestic violence (El Norte 14 Apr. 2003).

Furthermore, an article published in February 2003 quoted the Nuevo Leon civil society organizations (CSOs), which confirmed that domestic violence kills an increasing number of women in the state (Cimacnoticias 10 Feb. 2003). According to the CSOs, the authorities cannot protect victims because of inadequate policies on the subject and a legal system that is insensitive to the needs of the victims (ibid.). For example, the Nuevo Leon penal code stipulates that the authorities cannot take measures against domestic violence unless the woman denounces the crime herself (ibid.).

Some CSOs, such as Alternativas Pacíficas, have noted that when a woman is abused by her husband, her main concern is finding protection for her children and for herself (ibid.). Despite this, in October 2002, the State of Nuevo Leon decided to close its centre for victims of domestic violence and transfer its operations to the National System for Integral Family Development (Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia, DIF) and the office of the state attorney general (Procuraduría de Justicia del Estado), even though CSOs complained that the judges and officials of the government department lacked the training and sensitivity required to deal with domestic violence cases (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Centro de Investigación Familiar, A.C. (CIFAC), Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. 16 July 2003. Correspondence from the director.

Cimacnoticias. 10 February 2003. Juana María Nava Castillo. "Aumenta violencia doméstica contra mujeres en Nuevo Leon." http://www.cimacnoticias.com/noticias/03feb/03021004.html [Accessed 29 July 2003]

El Norte [Monterrey]. 14 Arpil 2003. Mariana Figueroa. "Provoca alerta violencia familiar." http://www.elnorte.com/monterrey/Articulo/301427/ [Accessed 29 July 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Attempts to obtain information from the Centro de Atención Familiar in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, were unsuccessful.

IRB Databases

The Programa Interdisciplinario de Estudios de la Mujer (PIEM) could not provide the information requested.

World News Connection/Dialog

Internet sites, including:

Alternativas Pacíficas

Isis Internacional

Mexico, Secretaría del Desarollo Social

Mujeres Hoy

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