Protection available for an 18-year-old man who has been abused by his father; support services available [MEX103481.FE]

According to a director of the National Network of Family Development Agencies (Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia, DIF) of Mexico, domestic violence is a crime under Mexican law, both at the federal level and in the 31 states, as well as in the Federal District (Distrito Federal), without any distinction based on the gender or age of the victim (Mexico 15 June 2010). Penalties set out for offenders who victimize members of their own family can vary from one state to another: while the Federal District criminal code (Código Penal para el Distrito Federal) provides for a prison sentence between 6 months and 6 years (Federal District 2002, Art. 200), the criminal code of the state of Guerrero (Código Penal del Estado de Guerrero) imposes, among other things, a prison sentence between 6 months and 5 years (Guerrero 1986, Art. 194c).

The Director of DIF reports that certain states have passed their own legislation on domestic violence (Mexico 15 June 2010). Among them are the states of Jalisco (Ley de Prevención y Atención de la Violencia Intrafamiliar del Estado de Jalisco, 2003), Tamaulipas (Ley de Prevención, Atención y Asistencia a la Violencia Intrafamiliar, 1999), Tabasco (Ley para la Prevención y Tratamiento de la Violencia Intrafamiliar para el Estado de Tabasco, 1999), Veracruz (Ley de Asistencia y Prevención de la Violencia Familiar en el Estado de Veracruz, 1998), and the Federal District (Ley de Asistencia y Prevención de la Violencia Familiar, 1996) (ibid.). In 1999, the state of Guerrero also adopted the Ley de Asistencia y Prevención de la Violencia Intrafamiliar del Estado de Guerrero (ibid. 21 June 2010; Guerrero 1999). Information on the enforcement of those laws could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The Director of DIF notes that for a domestic violence investigation to be conducted, victims must file a complaint against their assailant (Mexico 15 June 2010). In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a director general of DIF noted that the complaint must be filed with one of the Offices of the Attorney General (Procuradurías Generales de Justicia Estatal) of the state where the assault occurred (Mexico 18 June 2010). She stated that psychosocial support is among the services provided to victims (ibid.).

Support services

The following information is from written correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 15 June 2010 by the director of DIF.

To obtain assistance, victims must apply to the relevant organizations. According to the Director of DIF, victims of domestic violence can get assistance at the federal level through the Virtual Assistance Centre for Victims (Centro Virtual de Atención a Víctimas, CEVAVI), and in the Federal District, through the Assistance Centre for Victims and Addicts (Centro de Atención a Riesgos Victimales y Adicciones, CARIVA) and through Domestic Violence Prevention and Care Units (Unidades de Atención y Prevención de la Violencia Familiar, UAPVIF).

Administered by the Ministry of Public Security (Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, SSP), the CEVAVI is a website where victims can participate in discussion forums, chat and get support over the phone. This website also provides access to the National Network of Support for Victims (Red Nacional de Atención a Víctimas), which provides the contact information of organizations that support victims in Mexico’s 31 states and in the Federal District. CEVAVI also provides direct personal support services, such as psycho-educational workshops, first aid care for victims provided by a team of paramedics, mediation, legal aid, and specialized psychological assistance. The Director of DIF noted that these services are provided free of charge and in confidence by professionals, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Located in the Federal District, CARIVA and the UAPVIFs also provide free and confidential services. CARIVA assists men as well as children over 12 years of age who are victims of domestic violence. It provides support and legal advice, psychological assistance, financial aid for the legal proceeding, and support for victims through home visits by social workers.

Implemented in various municipalities of the Federal District, the UAPVIFs provide legal aid services, such as conciliation and mediation, as well as psychological assistance. These units also provide information on domestic violence and on what to do in such circumstances. Information on the effectiveness of the assistance provided by these organizations could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Federal District. 2002 (amended in 2010). Código Penal para el Distrito Federal. [Accessed 18 June 2010]

Guerrero. 1999 (amended in 2007). Ley de Asistencia y Prevención de la Violencia Intrafamiliar del Estado de Guerrero. [Accessed 18 June 2010]

_____. 1986 (amended in 2008). Código Penal del Estado de Guerrero. [Accessed 18 June 2010]

Mexico. 21 June 2010. Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF). Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a director.

_____. 18 June 2010. Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF). Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a director general.

_____. 15 June 2010. Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF). Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a director.

Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Representatives from the Senado de la República, the Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres (INMUJERES), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Mexico, the Fundación para la Protección de la Niñez), Red por los Derechos de la Infancia en México (REDIM), and Save the Children were unable to provide information within the time constraints.

Internet sites, including: Human Rights Watch, Instituto Interamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes (IIN), Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).